Happy Birthday Daddy!

I drove a different way home from school last week. We passed a church that has a small cemetery on its grounds. Even though this was a different way than we usually drive, we have passed this church probably over a thousand times, but our conversation took a different turn as well.

Evan: You remember that place that has all those gravestones?
Me: A cemetery?
Evan: Yeah! A cemetery. You remember that one we went to?

**Sidebar - my boys have only been to one cemetery one time back in 2002. Evan was not even 3.

Me: Which one baby?
Evan: The one with all the white gravestones all lined up in a row. The one where your dad is.
Me: Oh yeah, the Veteran's Cemetery. Sure, I remember that.
Evan: Yeah, that one.

Here there is a little pause. I glance back and see him just riding quietly in the car...but...he's quiet. He's never quiet.

Evan: When was grandpa Chuck born?
Me: 1937
Evan: No, I mean which month?
Me: Funny you ask that, because it was actually this month! His birthday would have been this weekend.
Evan: What?! WOW! Wait, what do you mean 'would have been'?
Me: ...pause...trying to figure out what he meant...
Evan: mooooommm, why did you say that?
Me: Well, when he was here on earth and not in heaven, his birthday was March 28th.
Evan: Do you not get your birthday when you go to heaven??
Me: Well, it will always be his birthday, he's just not here to celebrate it.
Evan: We can celebrate it!!

So once again, I was schooled by my oldest child. I'd like to say this happens way less than it really does. So we made a plan, together, on how we should celebrate Grandpa Chuck's birthday.

I have always acknowledged and internally celebrated my dad's birthday. But there was a hint of sadness that I didn't really want my boys to see. But Evan reminded me, I have a lot to celebrate in this life. Things my dad would be so proud of. Things that would make him laugh that huge belly laugh. Things that would light up his face. My boys being the biggest part what he would be proud of.

Our original plan to visit the cemetery with cupcakes was thwarted by a nasty 24 hour stomach virus. But in true Evan fashion, he did NOT forget. He asked John to pick up some donuts at the grocery store so we could celebrate when he felt better.

Happy Birthday Daddy. We ALL love you.

Spring Break 2015

This year we got a added bonus to our Spring Break! The boys and I were out the Thursday and Friday before Spring Break for SNOW! Real live to goodness snow. Not this 'snice' stuff Memphis usually gives us.

John left for Utah the day our Spring Break started and was gone the entire week. This not only gave us some great mother/son bonding time, but also made me appreciate a two parent household and all the people in this world who have to do that singlehandedly. Bless you single parents from the bottom of my heart.

The week promised to be rainy and cold, but I was determined to make the most of it. I let the boys tell me what they wanted to do most of the days, but I had one surprised up my sleeve.

Monday, both boys really really really wanted to go to Chick-fil-a. I convinced them to run by the library before that just to look at the books. Once they got in, they didn't want to leave! Luke loved bringing Evan books to see. He didn't really care about any books for him, but did want E to be set. They also spent a lot of time admiring the fish!

 

On Tuesday I decided to join the McClains (all six of them) on a trip to Union City, TN to visit Discovery Park of America. The McClains secured a house right on Reelfoot Lake for the night, so the boys and I packed up and drove up Tuesday afternoon. They had no idea until we set out on the road where we were going!  The boys had a blast skipping rocks and sleeping in bunk beds!

Discovery Park of America deserves its own blog post. The place was totally awesome! We took 6 children ages 20 months to nine! Everybody had so much to do! Blog post on that here...

Thursday was spent recovering from our trip. The boys and I hung out in our PJs, ran some errands and watched a movie. It was a nice relaxing day after a very busy 3 days.

Friday the boys really wanted to go to Kid's Play. That was perfect since it was $5 Friday AND raining. The boys ran, jumped, and played for 3 hours! Look at those red happy faces!

 

 

Thankfully Daddy came home Friday night and we were blessed with some beautiful weather over the weekend. And we got outside and soaked every bit of it up!

Discovery Park of America

We were able to take one 'trip' over Spring Break! We drove up to Union City to visit Discovery Park of America. I wanted to keep it a surprise to the boys, but Evan saw me packing bags. He got very upset because John was gone for the week and said "You're leaving us too? Who will take care of us??" The jig was up. I told him to keep it quiet, but when Luke woke up from nap we were going on a trip.

If you know this kid you know he wasn't letting me off that easy. He asked me 200 questions. Finally I told him I would tell him were we were going but not telling him who we were meeting there!

I showed him online all about Discovery Park. He was so excited to go! Those little dimples and excited demeanor...I just couldn't keep it from him. I told him I wouldn't tell him who was going as well, but we could play 20 questions to guess who it was. It only took him about 7!

He was excited about Lila and the entire McClain clan was going to be there. When we got to Reelfoot the boys scoped the place out and settled in. I knew sleep wasn't going to come easy with four kiddos in bunk beds, especially my two vocal ones. Around 10:30, I decided to give up the fight and take Luke into my room. I had a set of bunk beds along side my bed that I put Luke into. He was asleep within minutes.

Amazingly enough we all up, showered, cars packed, and out the door by 9:30. We arrived at Discovery Park shortly after doors and opened and we were off!!

This is the museum's welcoming committee.

Thank goodness there were three adults. Emmy stayed with twins most of the time. I trailed Luke and the big kids hung with Bill. 

This was by far one of Luke's favorite exhibit. I am still not sure what it does or what it was saying to him.

It was fun dancing in front of this thing. We learned I have really cold hands. Can you make out my body in the second picture?

 

The water section was a hit for kids of ALL ages!

 

 

There was a two story slide all the kids ventured down multiple times.

We came back to this solar energy exhibit multiple times. You use the mirrors to reflect light onto other mirrors which makes planes fly in a circle on the ceiling. 

They had an 20,000 aquarium that sent my anxiety through the roof. Do you see that fish?? I mean, Do.You.SEE.IT?!?!

 

The museum showcases a lot of different modes of transportation.

 


I can't see old cars like this without thinking of my dad.


The outside grounds were just as impressive! Discovery Park has about 50 acres of land with 6 different sections ranging from a Tree Maze to an old school house, settlement, chapel, mill ridge, and a train depot! Whew...we are so thankful Wednesday was a pretty day!





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All in all, it was the BEST day of Spring Break!!

Snow!!!

This winter has been pretty brutal for most of our north eastern friends. Down here in the South we did get a week of 'snice' (which is snow/ice...but mostly ice) that took us out of school for three days in February. We made the most of it and brought out our 'sled', which can double as a cookie sheet when needed, and had fun!



So much fun, Evan wanted to write about it in the first grade newspaper!

But in true Memphis bi-polar weather, the real snow came in March, just days before Spring Break. The storm was predicted to pack so much power, the Weather Channel named it Thor. No need to head to Kroger for bread and milk. I was ready with the real necessities. Bring it, Thor.

And Thor set him hammer down! This stuff was the real deal! Fluffy and white and cold....

We are terrifically lucky to have one of Evan's best friends live in the neighborhood. Him and Quinn spent seven hours together!

We made snow cream. They boys were really excited to help, but not so excited to eat it. They all vetoed the dessert and went straight for the real ice cream.

After working alllllll day in his office (I literally mean alllll day), Daddy finally got to join us for the snow fun!