Drake's 5th Birthday

Our (big) little guy is 5!  Cannot believe kindergarten is around the corner!  He had a perfect venue for his birthday party with his friends.  We had it at the Raccoon River Nature Lodge.  It was an animal birthday party; which meant all the kids could hold, pet & feed many different animals.  Drake was elated.  They fed toads, turtles, bunnies, snakes, & cockroaches.  Fun was had by all. We also   had celebrations at Westminster Preschool, Nonnie's, GG's and at home.  He got a coveted "real" red, electric guitar from mom, dad, Wyatt & Kenna.  For his birthday dinner out, he choose (same as last year), a "place where they cook in front of you."  He got to go behind the chef's table & help cook, which was very exciting.

Kenna's Entrepreneurial Spirit

Kids are tucked into their beds, and Kenna, who has recently gotten a "big girl bed," as opposed to the toddler bed, just needed one more reason to come out of her room.  She surprised us with this one~
Carrying a necklace, she says, "Mom, this necklace is too small...I want to sell it to Mary Jo Kramer."

Big Brother I adore

Drake adores Wyatt more than you may guess.  He usually chooses the same "favorite" things as Wyatt, prefers to agree with him & sometimes will not answer a question directed at him before asking Wyatt what he thinks.  However, Wyatt going to kindergarten this year has helped Drake grow into himself a bit and develop his own opinions & leadership skills.  However, once Wyatt is home, it is soon back to the way of little brother adoring big brother.  This dynamic between them cannot be better illustrated than by a recent conversation regarding sampling almond butter for the first time.

W-I like it.

D – I like it.

W – Actually, I don’t like it.

D – I don’t like it.

W - (sideways glance & glimmer in his eye) I do like it.

D – I like it.

W – I don’t like it.

D – I don’t like it.

W – Drake, you are just trying to be like me!

All Dogs go to Heaven

The kids love the movie, All Dogs Go to Heaven.  Kenna periodically proclaims to whoever is listening, "All dogs go to heaven and people go to Jesus."
She has also created a pet-name for me.  "Mommy-so-me-me."  She uses this name about as often as mommy or mama.  Usually, she says it with great emotion and gives me a super bear hug.  So sweet.

Halloween 2010!

This year, I had to let them completely pick their own costumes.  After two years of matchy-matchy, it was time.  Here is what they came up with;
Wyatt~Ironman
Drake~"a guy with a sword & a shield"  Wyatt named this "N Boy," which is what they went with at every occasion.
Kenna~Fairy Princess

It was a beautiful night for trick or treating, complete with a fun neighborhood party to end the night.

Wyatt the Chef

Nonnie has a great kids cookbook that all the kids love to look through, and will do so time and time again.  She told them they could each be the chef for one of our bi-weekly family dinners.  Wyatt went first.  He choose (to no surprise) chicken fingers & roasted potatoes.  They did each step by hand, and as you can see, Wyatt was very proud of his work.

Figuring out the world

Wyatt & Drake are tackling the bigger questions of life lately....

Wyatt:  Kenna & Alex have fallen in love. (next door neighbor)
Drake:  How does that happen??!!
Silence

Another Day~
Wyatt:  Nobody can count to infinity…NOBODY, not even God!
Drake:  Jesus can!! Jesus can!!
Wyatt:  You're right.  Jesus can.

The Walk (aka RUN) to School

Our third day walking Wyatt to school, and though I bring the stroller, they all run, really fast, most of the way.  They know each "stopping point" where they have to stop, wait for me to catch up, then take off again down the sidewalk.  Kenna tries her hardest to keep up with them, but is in the dust.  The boys were so sweet, as she came running up and they had been stopped a while, Wyatt said, "Kenna, you just beat all those guys behind you!!"  So, the rest of the walk, the boys kept saying that to her.  They are imagining "guys" so Kenna can "win" somebody.

First Day....AWESOME!

Wyatt was thrilled to go to kindergarten this morning.  It was a tough good-bye for Jon and I, but Wyatt did not know that.  Mrs. Iles turned to the lingering parents and whispered, "If you are going to cry, it is time to leave!"  And we did.  He's such a big boy now!  We kept very busy during Wyatt's first day of kindergarten.  Drake, Kenna & I went to the Science Ctr, library, out to lunch with Nonnie, grocery store, then it was almost time to pick him up.  He ran out of the classroom saying, "It was AWESOME!"  I was so relieved to hear that, but I had a feeling he would love it.

Drake's hilarious quote of the day, nothing to do with kindergarten, was to do with toothbrushes.  We bought new ones at the store.  Right when we got home, he ran upstairs to brush his teeth & put it in its proper place.  He brought me his old one, "Mom, I want to sell this at the garage sale."  So precious.  Just a little entrepreneur.

Kindergarten

Tomorrow is the big day for Wyatt.  Off to Kindergarten. Tonight at bedtime, we all gave him "advice" for his first day.
Mom ~ Be a good friend to everyone.  Use good manners.
Drake ~ Be nice to all the friends.
Kenna ~ I love you.

Wyatt asked if I remembered that Mrs. Iles gave me a red puff ball at open house last night to hold onto if I missed him.  I told him I remember.  He said he will miss us too.
I have thought this whole summer that this transition would not be too difficult because Wyatt has been so eager & excited, but it is really hard...as the last couple days he has talked more about missing us.  Hopefully, I am getting all my tears out now, because I do not want him to see me sad tomorrow, as I know that will worry him.  I know he will love it, and in a week or so, we will all be adjusted to him being gone 7 hours each day.  But wow, what a milestone, a transition, huge emotional roller coaster.  Of course, we all know when we have a child, that someday they will go off to kindergarten, so why does this sadness feel so sudden, so suffocating, and uncontrollable?  I know I will take comfort in Wyatt's positive, eager attitude once he wakes up tomorrow, ready for this big day he has been planning for so long.  My little guy, off to school, what a slice of life, and a moment I'll always remember.

Their Own Houses

The kids talk about, all the time, their own houses when they grow up; what color they will be, what pets they will have, that there will be lots of candy there, etc.  Pets are a huge focus at our house and they have planned many times, how pets will fit into their lives in the years to come.  Here is a recent conversation between the kids;

Wyatt ~ I will have my own house and have baby Harleys (aka yellow labs).

Drake ~ I will have baby kitties, and I will have a box thing that I can put them in and bring them to Wyatt's house and spend the night.

Kenna ~ ME TOO!!!!

Drumming at the Fair with Greenbrier

After a great Sheltered Reality concert at the Iowa State Fair, Wyatt had not had enough drumming.  When we stepped into Diamond Jacks, to cool off for a minute, Wyatt ended up on stage with Greenbrier, and their drummer, Derald "Animal" Bell, politely let Wyatt guest drum for a song, "Keep Your Hands to Yourself."  The crowd went wild and asked for an encore!  It was a great time for all.  Wyatt was so excited to get a Greenbrier tee-shirt, CD & drumsticks, all autograped!  Check out the link to see his performance on youtube.
Wyatt drumming with Greenbrier

Trip to Illinois & Wisconsin

We spent time in Chicago visiting lots of family & friends; Aunt Nancy & Uncle Jay, Costellos, Chans & Knights.  From there, we went on a Ledinsky family trip to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  The kids had a blast on the beach, bumper boats, skiing, tubing & a trip to the racetrack was a favorite.  As we were leaving the racetrack, Wyatt saw one of the drivers sitting in the stands with his family.  He stopped me and asked if he could give the driver some money because he did such a good job. I started to say we needed to get going, but Wyatt persisted.  I think he thought this was necessary because of our experiences watching live, local music, he is always sure to fill the tip jar a few times.   He was so persistent, and his heart was really in it, so I dug out a couple dollars & Wyatt raced up the stands to give it to the driver.  He, of course, refused to take Wyatt's money, but as I told the driver it was really important to Wyatt, he took it.  Wyatt was so proud to get his picture taken with this great race car driver.

Wyatt's 6th Birthday

Wyatt had a fabulous 6th birthday party in our backyard; complete with sack races, recycled artwork, build-your-own sundaes & the annual water balloon fight.  Lisa Anderson stepped in as our talented face painter.  A wonderful time was had by all! On his actual birthday, mom & dad surprised him with 4 tickets to Adventureland Amusement Park.  He was ecstatic.  Jon, cousin Jack, Wyatt & Drake had a great time, complete with many rides on the upside-down roller coaster.

Baby Isaac ~ Born 7/19/10

Wyatt, Drake & Kenna were very excited to welcome a new cousin to the mix, Isaac, son of Joe & Leslie.  They cannot keep their hands off him!  Wyatt and Drake actually felt a little bad for Kenna that she still doesn't have a "girl cousin" but we still have hope in Jon & Jess's other siblings' future children!  Kenna does not seem to mind, she just loves having a baby around!

3-4-5........Go!

1, 2, 3

There are about 2 weeks per year (b/w 7/12-7/28) that the kids' ages are consecutive; between Wyatt & Kenna's birthdays.  The past couple years, I have taken a picture of them during this time.  Here are their pics at; 1, 2, 3 ('08);  2, 3, 4 ('09); and 3, 4, 5 ('10).

2, 3, 4

3, 4, 5

Kenna's 3rd Birthday

Kenna celebrated her birthday with a small party at home with a few friends & was elated with princess cupcakes & gifts associated with Care Bears.  We also celebrated with Nana & Papa  and again on our trip to the Kramers in Arkansas.

Grandma Marjorie

Grandma Marjorie passed away on July 4th, 2010.  Though we knew this was coming, as she has had an aggressive cancer since last year, it still took a toll.  This was the first time the kids had dealt with death of a loved one, and they kept it interesting with laughs, heart-felt emotion, and sincere questions.  We came home from vacation a day early for the funeral & visitation.  As I ran around the house, once we arrived home after 9 days, trying to get the essentials taken care of before I ran off to Grandma's house to work on funeral preparations, Wyatt chased me around with a pad of paper and pen.
"Mom!  I want to write to Grandma Marjorie!" 
I sat down, and wrote frantically, as the words spilled out of him.  I wish I could say it was my idea to write this, but it was all his.  After he was done, I asked Kenna & Drake if they had something to say.  The rest is history, as they say.  I brought these 3 letters to my Grandma's house that night, just for the reason to share with the people there (Aunt Linda, Marla & Jackie).  I was planning to either glue them on one of the picture boards we were creating or place them in her casket the next day.  Everyone was insistent that I bring them the next day and have the Minister read them at the funeral.  However, the next day, it was decided by many, that it would be better if I read them myself.  I thought I would be able to do it, and went to the pulpit.  I could not form any words, therefore, Marla took over.  She did a great job; reading these thoughts from the little tots.

Grandma Marjorie,

I hope you have a good time.  I wish you were still alive, but you had to die.  Sometime God will give you a new body and you will have good times.  It's going to be fun with God.  You will have a good time; great days.  Everything will be fine.  You'll have a rockin' out roll.  You'll have so much fun, you might want to stay there forever; and you will.  You'll love it.  I've read a book of it.  It will be so much fun.  It's going to be rock and roll.  Everyone who knows you, loves you.  It's so wonderful to have you with God.

Love, Wyatt.

Grandma Marjorie,

I love you.  I hope you feel better.  Goodbye.  And I really miss you.

Love, Drake

Grandma Marjorie,

I love you.  I like to play at your house.  I love you in the morning.

Love, Kenna

This picture is great for this post, as we loved to ride our bike(s) to Grandma's house this spring & summer.  The kids brought her so much joy over the past months; we will miss her!