Wordless Wednesday

Only One Week of "Summer Vacation" Left!

Well, a week from today, the kids will have completed their first day of school.  Can't believe that DD is already in first grade!  It was right after my first-grade year that we moved to Eldora.  I felt so grown up.  I knew all I needed to know.  Holy Cow!  That's how she sees herself, too, I think.  Dig will be in Preschool and he is so excited!  I hope that excitement lasts through the drop off Monday afternoon.  He is so excited to learn!  In fact, last night, he asked me to teach him how to tie.  I showed him twice.  He practiced a few times and refused to let me help him.  He would start over if I said or touched anything!  Well, I'm proud to say, that today...he ties by himself!  He's a stubborn little guy who is not to be out done...especially by his big sister!  Can't wait to see how he soaks up Preschool!

I, on the other hand, have mixed emotions.  I've always thought how sad it was to hear other moms say, "I can't wait for the kids to go back to school!"  I cringed.  However, this last week of summer...I am starting to understand a little.  The kids fought all day.  Mom saved the day and 'took' them away for a bit while I vaccuumed & cleaned bathrooms tonight.  Actually, they're still gone.  Wonder what they talked her into tonight!?   I will be sad taking the kids to school.  My heart aches at how quickly they have grown.  My entire job description is changing next week...what will I do with my afternoons? Lane is in school 12:30-3:30...I suppose I'll go grocery shopping, clean, laundry, start supper, READ...A BOOK! Oh my! The joy of that!  I'll also stalk decorating and before & after websites...Ryan's beginning to wish we didn't have internet service with all my talk of re-painting walls & furniture and re-upholstering,  etc...  But he loves me...he doesn't care what I do...as long as it doesn't involve much work from him! =)

There have been a few funnies lately that I don't want to forget...

As Drue was getting out of the car one day, she very seriously told Lane..."well, pretty soon, when I grow up, I'll have eyes all around my head, under my hair!"  Lane was speechless.  He stared at her head then glanced over at me.  I smiled.  Drue then looked at me..."what?!? Won't I mom!  I'll have eyes all over my head and in the back, just like you do!"  I explained that when I said, "I have eyes on the back of my head" I wasn't serious.  She was shocked. I could see the disappointment in her eyes...the ones on the front of her head.  I assured her though, that if and when she becomes a mommy...she'll say the same thing!

The big news around here was DD learning to ride a bike with no training wheels.  That meant she needed a new, bigger bike.  We went to Waterloo...all the stores.  Ended up at Toys R Us.  The kids had never been before.  They were beyond excited.  First off Dig was in awe of the colorful store. 

He said, "Mom! I've never been here before!!" 
I replied, "yes, and there is a reason for that!" 
"why?" 
"because 99% of all kids who enter this place leave crying because they didn't get everything they want." 

They found bikes and we looked around.  Every.toy.they.could.imagine.  E.V.E.R.Y!  It's all he can talk about. "Can we go there today?" "I want a Toys R Us gift card for my birthday?" Seriously, that place is not meant for kids...only Santa & Grandmas.

Today, Drue was talking about what she wants to be when she grows up...a Vet.  She asked where she had to go to college for that. (this is a big topic, frequent one...she wants to be able to drive home every night...I'm positive she'll change her mind by the time she's 18!)  We talked about how fun and exciting being a vet will be and how thankful her Dad, Pa & Uncle Shawn will be to have a Vet in the family!

Dig very proudly expressed what he wants to do when he grows up..."BUY A TOYS R US STORE!"

Go figure!

More Texas...

I've waited too long.  We've had a lot going on around here but I'm finally ready to post some more pictures from our trip to Texas...

Friday, after returning from the Stockyards, we took the kids to the pool for a bit before getting ready for the wedding. 

Lindsay and Jordan were married at the Tower Club on the 48th floor of the Thanksgiving Tower right downtown Dallas.  The view was amazing.  Mom is not a fan of elevators...at all.  She did great though.  Our ears popped all the way up! The wedding was beautiful.  Jordan's Dad is a Lay Pastor and he performed the ceremony.  Afterwards, we all went in to a different room for appetizers and after about a half hour, we went into the reception room. We enjoyed a delicious meal and plenty of champagne.  The little kids ended up falling asleep and us big kids headed out to the dance floor for some fun.

After the wedding, there was a Candy Bar set up for us to fill little bags full of pink, white & brown candies.  The kids were still asleep, so they missed out on seeing it, but never fear...they got LOTS of the candy! 

All ready to go!

I think the sun made Drue crazy. She was in a silly mood!

With my brothers & their girlfriends...

My cute parents.

My men

The wedding was on the 48th floor!

KK & DD

Uncle Shawn checking out the Little Man.

Our Drivers.  Well, actually they were.  But they are also known as Uncle Jim & Dad.  =)  The had to park the huge vans and we were afraid they'd get mugged on the way back!  ha!

I did NOT like Dig leaning on those windows!!  I got weak in the knees just looking down!

Dig LOVED this glass!  He asked if we could take it home! 

Another view from the reception room

(that's a reflection of candles on a table on the right)

We could see the tops of most of the other buildings in the city!

DD fell asleep

So did Digga Dean.  That's what staying up late,

walking a lot and swimming will do to a guy!

After we got back to the hotel, the kids were excited to see the candy we had picked up for them...if they only new what was instore for them tomorrow!! Just wait and see the stash they came home with!

That Didn't Take Long!

Another milestone for the Luiken family!  Drue Kathleen can ride a bike...with NO training wheels! 

She's one determined little girl!  Daddy helped her practice three evenings in a row and last night he LET GO! She was beaming!  We are so proud of her!  I just happened to be taking a video when Ryan let go for the first time so she can watch it over and over!

Her brother is not to be out-done so he has vowed to practice with no training wheels, too.  I'm sure he'll get the hang of it before school starts!

Our weekend plans... buy two new bikes! 

Summer Days

Today felt like one of those typical "All-American" Summer Days...and we enjoyed it! 

Here's the rundown...

*  The kids and I slept in, this is nothing new, we have been waking up between 8:30 and 9 since the week school got out!

*  We had a lazy morning.  Drue played with her doll house, Dig with his Lite Brite, I folded laundry.

*  We ate lunch at Nan & Pa's...again, nothing new, we've done this almost every noon for the past 3 1/2 years!

*  The kids and I spent a very hot and humid afternoon at the pool.  We have some fishies this summer!  They've really taken off and Ryan and I are so proud of how confident DD & Dig are becoming in the water!  They now prefer the 4'! No more "little kid" area for them!

*  We grilled Balvanz Cattle burgers for supper, topped with onions and tomatoes from our garden.

*  Dad helped DD practice riding her bike with NO training wheels!  Who woulda' thought!  That girl didn't even get ON a bike last summer and until this week the same was true this summer.  It was all her idea.  Her bike is too little so if she figures this out...she's been promised a new one!  Look at her proud brother jogging next her yelling, "you're doing it! Good job, DD!"  and Dad's getting his workout running up and down the road behind her...one of these times, he'll let go! 

*  Dad & Dig played baseball in the street.  Yes, Mom.  I said street.  Nothing says summer to a little boy like a game of street ball.  (Only when mom and dad are out there...He knows.)

*  The kids have Kool-Aid mustaches and dirty little faces.  I love it!

*  We gobbled up an evening snack of s'mores...as Ryan would say, "fancy" s'mores.  We sprinkled toasted tortillas with cinnamon and sugar, added chocolate bars, mini marshmallows and BANANAS! yum-o!  I do love me some chocolate and bananas!! 

*  As has been far too common this summer, we are now listening to thunder rolling in and anticipating a severe thunderstorm, but not before we ran the munchkins through a quick bubble bath.

*  Now.. to finish off this perfect summer day...cuddles and books on the couch with my two favorite kids in the entire world.  Can't get any better than that!

My Husband...

is starting to get a big head!

On more than one occasion he has been told he looks like the country music hottie Dierks Bentley.

Ryan is sure that if that many people have said it out loud, "just think of all the people who THINK I look like him, but just don't tell me!"

I have to agree there are definitely similarities...I'm not sure Ryan needs to know that though!  =)

I couldn't get him to strike a pose, so this is as good as I can get...Leave a comment and tell me what you think? 

MY  Dierks

THE  Dierks

Did You Know...

That most nights I sleep with two guys?!

It's true.  For almost five years now, Lane Ryan has slept in our bed for at least part of the night.  If he doesn't come in sometime during the night, I usually wake up wondering what's wrong and go check on him. 

I usually hear him rustling in bed then walking to our room.  He doesn't say anything unless it's "I'm Firsty!" He just crawls over Ryan and snuggles in between us.  His sister, on the other hand, I hear her RUN from her room to ours.  She jumps in bed like she's being chased  and quickly falls back asleep.

Over the last few weeks we think Lane has been sleep walking.  On two occassions I have heard him crying, not just crying, but sobbing.  I sat up quickly and ran to his room...he was not there.  I saw him sitting on the couch in the living room, eyes closed, crying.  I carried him in to our bed and he was immediately asleep and when I tried to wake him, I couldn't.  Another night I heard him crying and caught him walking out of the kitchen, eyes closed, crying.  Poor little guy.  He can't remember any sad or scary dreams, so that is good. 

Last night we had a different experience!  Dig quietly got in bed with us about 2:00 a.m. nothing was said.   
Ryan and I fall back asleep about a half hour later we were startled by a "Grrrrrr-ROOWWW!" 

Ryan and I were scared awake.  Ryan asked, "what the heck was that?  Did he just growl!?"

Sure enough, Lane growled in his sleep.

 I tried asking him if was having a dream but got nothing out of him.

We laughed...then got some Z's before the little lion woke back up!