What's Up, Doc?

If you don't have kids who watch Cartoon Network, this post may make no sense to you.  That's ok.  I just have to document it as part of my motherly duties.

In case you haven't heard, the Looney Tunes are back.  They aren't as good as they were when we were kids, or when my dad was a kid for that matter.  I remember many Saturday mornings when Looney Tunes were the only cartoons on t.v. I wasn't a  fan as a child.  In fact, I despised that stinkin' Road Runner and Wylie Coyote.  No words? ugh. But, I grew to love those cartoons.  Dad knew most of them by memory.  "Oh, this is the one Foghorn Leghorn does such-and-such."  "Which way did he go, George? Which way did he go?"  Dad even has most of the voices down.  But, like I was saying, the new ones are...just that...new.  Not the same. 

Cartoon Network has been promoting the new shows with a commercial containing two of their most famous characters, Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny.  I think they are in some sort of game show format.  Someone asks Daffy, "what's your best friend's CATCH PHRASE?" 

Daffy, of course, can't come up with the correct answer.  "Um. I don't do Mondays?"  On and on with silly answers.

For over a week Lane has been asking, 

"Mom? What's a SKETCH-RAY?"

"Huh?"

"What's a SKETCH-RAY?"

"Um, Bubs.  I don't know."

Finally, last night, I figured it out.

"Mom? What's your SKETCH-RAY?"

"Uhhh. I don't think I have a SKETCH-RAY?  Do I??  I don't even think I know what a SKETCH-RAY is." (Talk about feeling like an old lady.  I had no idea what he was talking about!) 

"You know, like, Bugs Bunny's SKETCH-RAY is 'what's up, Doc?  He calls everybody Doc!" {giggles!}

"OH! Catch phrase!  I don't really have a catch phrase.  Do you?"

DD piped up. "Mine's I Don't Do Mondays!"

Dig yells, "Mine's When am I Getting a Bunny Rabbit?!" 

Long story short.  Dig wants a bunny.  Hasn't stopped asking for one since the fair.  I guess that's the new SKETCH-RAY until he decides he wants something different! 

Where We've Been...

Obviously, I'm not a very good "Summer Blogger!"  There just aren't enough hours in the day right now! We are busy having fun and enjoying ourselves and, as usual, I have a long list of  'Things-to-Blog-About' when I finally have more than just a few free minutes...BUT, do you wonder what we've been up to this week?

I'll let this group of pictures fill you in...

blurry...but you get the idea!

Stay tuned for more details of all the new adventures we've had this year at the FAIR!

Another Day of Firsts!!

The kids have easily slipped into "summer vacation" mode...so did this momma!  The morning after school was let out for summer, both kids slept until 9 am....which means so did this momma!  DD has even slept until after 10 a couple of mornings!

I have so many things to blog about, not for your sake...but for mine.  I just want to make sure I have all these fun and important times in our lives recorded.  I'll try and knock some of the posts off of my list here in the next few days.  Hang tight!

Here are some exciting happenings from THIS week!

Our horse-lover is taking RIDING LESSONS!  Drue was thrilled to have her first lesson Thursday.  Of course, it was a hot day...but that girl knew she had to have her jeans on!  Drue's instructor showed her how to brush out tails, clean out the 'frogs' in the horse's feet, how to properly hold the reins, how to get on/ off the horse, what to do when approaching other riders, how to saddle up the horse, that kind of thing.  She also got to ride for most of the session, no lead rope, just the instructor nearby...her favorite part was when she and Copper got to trot! Drue was pretty expression-less the entire 45 minute session, but, once she slid off the saddle and climbed over the fence to me, she had a priceless smile and quickly informed me, "I want to do it TWICE a week!"  We assured her, she can take them ONCE a week for as long as she'd like! 

I can't think of anything that would make her more happy than being on a horse!

As you can imagine, we're constantly counting

down the days until the next riding lesson, now!

Thursday was a busy night...after riding lessons, I had to hurry and make supper so I could go to the movie, Bridesmaids with Kelly.  Funny, funny movie! (But I'm glad we didn't take our moms along...would have been a little embarrasing!)

While I was in the kitchen plopping 4 chicken breasts into foil packets for the grill, I'd say about 10 minutes max...Ryan had taken off Dig's training wheels and the two were walking down the street.  Ryan had his hand on Dig's bike seat.  I put the chicken on the grill and yelled to the boys, "I better go get the camera!" Ryan said, "you won't need it tonight, we're just starting." 

Well, like usual...I didn't listen!  Good thing, too because that little stinker rode without training wheels the very first time his dad let go!  And, he didn't just poke around...he FLEW!  He pedalled so fast that Ryan had to full-out RUN! 

I happened to catch the moment with my camera...the camera I wouldn't have had if I listened to my husband! =)

Dig is so proud!  Today, he mastered starting himself.  He's still working on stopping in any other way but crashing into the curb, but he'll have it in no time!  We are so proud for him! We knew it wouldn't be long before our little athlete was showing off on a bike without training wheels...I just never thought it would be this easy!  He's definitley feeling like big stuff the last two days. 

Surprisingly, there are no new cuts or bruises...yet!

His bike sheild suffered a little during the crashes, nothing a zip-tie can't fix!

He's off!

Momma thought he went a little too fast for his first time!

But both boys were EXCITED!

Just another Thursday evening with the Luikens!

We're Pooped!

Or in the words of the Balvanz family ..."we're exhausterated!"

(how we found Dig after the pool, before dinner last night!)

Since my last post we've had school trips, Preschool graduation, the last day of First-grade, Uncle Steve & Aunt Lisa home for a long Memorial Day weekend, all the Luiken kids home, a summer clothes shopping trip, hot summer days at the pool, doctor appointments, nightly Bible study lessons, evenings spent at the shop building a chicken coop (why? you ask? stay tuned!) practicing showing sheep and we're closing in on our week at Bible school. 

Two weeks of summer vacation and we're already pooped!

More posts to come...once we've rested up!

Flashback Friday

Spring 2009:  Goofing Around with Grandma Mary!

Guest of Honor

Waaaay back in February, we received a letter in the mail.  It was from the Hardy Reading Council.  {Hardin & Grundy Counties} The letter informed us that Drue had written a poem at school that was submitted to the reading association, was judged by a committee of teachers and writers and that she had won at the local level!

What a surprise!  We had no idea about the contest or the poem!  =)  She had written it in her daily, winter journal. 

Drue's poem, "Sledding," was then submitted to the State Poetry Contest of the Iowa Reading Association.  Later in March, DD received another letter.  This time, informing and congratulating her because her poem had won SECOND place in the STATE!!

We were invited to a recognition dinner and all of the local winners would read their writings.  May 4th, we left shortly after school and took off for BCLUW where lots of family joined us!  Nanny, Pa, Mimi, RahRah, Uncle Shawn and KK came to hear Drue read her poem and enjoy a children's author speak.  One of Drue's classmates, Waylen, also had also won a student writer award...Drue was excited that he was there, too. 

Drue got to read her poem first.  She was nervous up until the time she got on the chair, then she read like an old pro! She received an award and a children's book from the guest speaker.  After Julia Cook spoke, we purchased a few more books and got to meet the author as she wrote a special note in DD & Dig's new books. 

We were all so proud of her! 

"Sledding"

Sledding is going fast,

I know I don't want to be last!

Sledding with my family is lots of fun,

Would you like to come?

Down the hill is where you go,

Don't get stuck in the deep snow!

Sledding down the snowy hill-

It's the best winter thrill!

I'm gonna be in BIG trouble...



but I couldn't resist!

Like father...like son!