A Girl and Her Horse

Drue has riding lessons every Wednesday. 

Occasionally, I have to 'talk-her-into' going to dance or 'get her excited' about going to volleyball, but never...not once, have I had to use any magic words to get her to go riding. 

Drue loves every minute being with her horse, Felicity, Lissie for short.  She turns into a different person on horseback.  She's confident, she's brave it's so fun to watch.  She sits so well and just looks like a natural cowgirl.  Or, horsegirl. 

There have been nights where her trainer, Jill, saddles a horse up for me and we ride a couple miles.  The nights I couldn't make it, Ryan rides "Old Man" with  the girls. 

One morning, over breakfast, I was informed,
"I have a lot of stuff I don't tell you about when Dad goes to Jill's with me." 
"oh really, like what?  Or do I not want to know?"
"Well, don't tell Dad, but I do stuff like Around the World and I ride Lissie backwards, and I turn myself around in the saddle while she's walking."
"You what!?  Are you practicing for the circus!? Ok, don't tell me anymore."
"Yeah, Jill said you'd freak.  She also said some stuff we can only do when Dad takes me, cuz he's the cool one."

okie dokie.

A few weekends ago, we drove to Missouri to get Drue a Billy King saddle.  The man we got it from called a week or so later just checking how it's working for her and to say that he and his wife were just so tickled with the way Drue loves horses and how she just looked like she knew what she was doing. 

It's true.  Horses are Drue's thing.

She recently told me, "Mom, we're going to Disney World AND I have my very own horse...I don't even have anything else to wish for!!"  She's one happy girl!

Here she is doing some of the things she does when I'm with her at lessons. 
I'll have to have Ryan record her circus acts while I'm not there.

 

 

Hot Cross Buns

Being a Third-grader is big stuff. 
Like, Upper Playground big stuff. 
Like, switch classes big stuff. 
Upstairs in the building big stuff.
Learning to play the recorder big stuff.

The first day DD brought her recorder home she practiced from the minute she got home until supper.  After she ate (and brushed her teeth!) she played some more. 

She played so much that first day, that I suggested she go outside and play for her dog, Cash, because, "I'm sure Cashy would love to hear your new song!" 

I'm so proud of her and how she's loving learning to read music. 

I'm sure there will be more where this comes from...who knows, she may end up playing the flute like her momma!

In 7th Heaven

Happy Birthday, Little Man! 

Time flies when you're having fun...and I definitely think FUN was had this week! Phew.  Dig was so busy.  One of his best friends has a birthday just a couple days before him.  Lane went with his family to McDonald's for supper, the next night the kids went with Uncle Shawn and Aunt KK to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, Friday night was Dig's friend party, Saturday was Dig's first flag football game and the family party.  Sunday, Dig went back to AJ's to play for his birthday party.  Perhaps this schedule is partly to blame for the reason Lane has missed 3 days of school with the flu this week.  hmm.

There was only one thing Lane asked for for his birthday.  Dig's friend, Reghan, introduced him to a Wii game called "Skylanders."  She showed Lane how to play and got him totally addicted.  You buy these little characters, place them on the Portal of Power and they "jump" into the game.  It's a cool concept, but I don't really get video games. 

Lane was in 7th Heaven on his 7th birthday!

Cupcakes for school, and his friend party.

These 4 boys managed to be louder than any bunch of girls Drue has EVER had over!

What Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party would be complete without pizza?
Drue, you almost made it out of the shot!  ;)

The morning of his birthday

Birthday wish granted!!

Drue was "rudely woke up before she was ready!"

Our friend, Teresa made even the presentation of the cake special!

Worn out Birthday Boy before the party even started!

 

My camera has a mind of it's own and refused to take any more pictures so I didn't get our usual family shot, which made me so sad.  I'm trading that crazy thing in, pronto!

 

Happy Birthday, Digga Dean! 

We are so proud of you and love you like crazy!

The Day Before

Lane Ryan turns SEVEN tomorrow.  What?!  How does this happen? 

Dig wrote me a special note last night and asked if I would "please read this out loud." 

 

 

(In his classroom, students underline words they believe are spelled incorrectly.)

 

Dig's note says, "Maybe I can open one present tomorrow." 

 

Uncle Steve always sends presents from California and they always arrive early so they are a huge temptation.  Uncle Steve always says Dig can open them early, his momma doesn't always let him.  So, last night, Dig hid quietly behind the chair and wrote me the note.  I got the hint.

 

This morning, I let him open one present from Uncle Steve and he went nutso. 

 

Pretty good way to start off the Day-Before-You're Birthday!

Facebook Updates

I find myself putting the kids's funny little comments or our day to day happenings on Facebook instead of taking the time to put them on our blog.  So, I decided to scan my FB wall and pick out the updates I think the kids will find fun (or FuNnY!?) when they look through my blog books some day. 

Because, let's face it...they may not accept my future friend requests!

January 2012:

*Drue's new past time: Looking up Quarterbacks and deciding if they're cute or not. So far, on the cute list: Tebow, Brees, Sanchez and Rodgers. Not so cute: Roethlisberger, the Mannings and a few I can't remember...Momma's enjoying this little game, too. ;)

*Seriously? I'm married to a 37 year old man?! He's so lucky to have such a young wife! oh, wait....hmm. Well, Happy Birthday anyway, Ryan Dean!

　

February:

*DD had a blonde moment this morning:
Me: "we're going to run to the bank so Dig can change his coins into dollars."
DD: "howww do they *do* that?!"
Dig: "it's not a magic potion, DD!"

*I'm starting to feel like my Grandma with a cold...I keep finding Kleenexes I've hidden in my undergarments! =)

March:

*Am I the only mom with elementary aged kids that wishes I had automatic flush toilets?! The kids are so used to the school's that they 'forget' when they're home. =)

*In the middle of the night I hear my sleeping son say, "Mom, I punch better when it's nice out."

*(This is a message from Drue's former dance teacher) "I wanted to tell you this..it's so cute watching Drue and her friends grow up. When we used to butterfly away (a stretch) they'd always go to the park or Disneyland...now she's informed my that she's flying to her boyfriend Tim Tebow's house!! :)"

*Lent = 2 packed lunches every Friday until Easter.

*Mimi to Lane,
"would you like a mushroom?"
"I don't like mushrooms...or toads!"
haaahaa!

April:

*Lane went outside to "shoot hoops for a little bit." Not 5 minutes later he ran in the door saying, "oh man! I got scared! I heard crows and thought they were the wicked witch's monkeys!!" I guess that was enough BB for the day!

*Little Man didn't have school today because of Kindergarten Round-up...what did he do? Went to the farm, played basketball, Kum & Go for a slushie, checked out books from the library, lunch at Nanny's, bike ride around the neighborhood, stop at Gma Mary's, picked up his room & living room without being asked and to top it off...picked up his SISTER'S room while listening to the ipod...obviously, without being asked! Such a special kid. ♥ him!

*"I'm tired, Mom."
"Yes, well, that's because you woke up at 5 yesterday morning throwing up and stayed up all day and most of the night."
"Wow. I must be nocturnal or something."
Yeah, but Momma's not...hopefully, this rain will make for good napping.



June:

*First conversation of the morning.
Dig: "Mom! I can't *wait* for my 15th birthday!!"
Me: "Why is that, Bubs?"
Dig: "Cause I think that's when I have my bar mitzvah and get a boat load of presents."
?????

*watch out kids! My momma got me my very own sewing machine...it's homemade clothes from now on! bahha! Not quite, but I'm feeling kinda crafty!

*Today: farm chores, library, basketball camp, dentist, ran 4L errands, karate and walk the bottle calf. So much for a lazy summer.

*First thing this morning, Little Man calls me in to the bathroom, "hey mom! Do you know at Subway it's avocado season!? You'll have to go in there." My addiction to avocados and guacamole must be pretty obvious!

*Our plan to bring Grandma Great homemade ice cream with Delia & Elliot, brought us a special surprise. Grandma Luiken's wedding dress was being modeled, and Grandpa Ernie's suit.

*June 29: *So* looking forward to a weekend full of ... nothing! First weekend of the summer with no plans. Just resting up for a crazy fun wedding week!

July

*July 3: caramel apple pie in the oven, blueberry dessert chilling, kids with Nanny & Pa picking Uncle Steve & Aunt Lisa up from the airport...let party week begin!

*My baby brother gets married tomorrow....and I only cried for about 4 minutes during rehearsal. Those are both pretty big deals. =)

*DD's at volleyball camp and Dig is golfing with Uncle Steve and Aunt Lisa. Such sporty children, taking after their momma... Bahahaa!

*July 17: True story: I've only fixed *ONE* meal at our house since July 2nd! The week of the wedding we ate every meal at Mom & Dad's and all this week we've eaten at the fair. Hope I remember how to cook!

*On the drive home from Karate, we were admiring the beautiful sunset, the corn, trees, a deer, all sorts of things. My baby boy states, "you know mom, everything we see is because of God."

*another one from 6 year-old, Mr. Smooth. I'm on the couch with a sore throat, I run my fingers through his hair, he says to me, "You are so cute. Now I know why Dad married you." sigh.

*The time has finally come! Miss DD is the proud owner of her very own HORSE! She is continuing her lessons, but now she can say she's taking lessons on HER horse. Another plus, the horse came without a name. What 8 year-old girl doesn't want to name her horse?!

August:

*Not to be out done….Dig asked,  "how much was DD’s horse? Then... can I at least have a fish tank?!" He got 6 fish and we’ve had 3 fish funerals.

*pretty sure I could hypnotize my daughterer by cleaning her ears. Her eyes roll back and she practically falls asleep!

*The Olympics have consumed the Luiken home this past week!

*The kids just left with their dad to "find something for supper."
This could be very interesting.

　
*Lane just announced,
"Mom. I just baptized the cat...with real water."

*Was feeling a little mommy guilt after having to get after Dig for yelling and being crazy, hugged him and said, "you need to listen the first time buddy.". Dig replied, "or I can just say,"you look cute, mommy.". Can you say PLAYER?!

*"I'm so lucky to be a boy. I can pee outside, take my shirt off and keep my last name forever. Being a boy is sa-weet!" - Dig Luiken

*Me: "ok, people! What would you like for lunch?"
DD: "Bacon!"
She IS my daughter!

*9 Days of Summer Break left. I asked the kids what they wanted to do in those days. "Stay home!" Sounds good to me!

*"Mom, I love how you grew. You grew out...not up."
-Guess who.

*4th generation's first trip to the Tama sale barn. I'm sure their Great Grandpa Balvanz is smiling...

　
*Of course, with only 4 days of break left, my daughter takes a particular interest (and liking!) to helping do laundry and dishes. And she and her brother cleaned their bathroom all by themselves - without asking. Who are these children?!

*Got talking about bedrooms and Drue states, "I want my next bedroom to be smaller, that way it will be easier to keep clean." Lane pipes in, "I want my next bedroom to have a t.v. and a fridge! Then, I'll invite Dad in to have a beer and play the Wii!"

　
*They're growing up! Strangely, both kids *wanted* to go to bed early tonight. I never mentioned a bedtime, and both kids were asleep by 8:30. Can't believe it's off to 1st and 3rd grades tomorrow!

*First day of 1st & 3rd Grade...off without a hitch (or a tear!) yay!

*This morning, D & Dig made a special request: pumpkin pie as an after school snack. Only *MY* kids would request a pie!

*Yesterday without kids = "oh, boy! Let's see what I can get done!"
Today without kids = It's too quiet. Missing them like crazy  b.o.r.e.d.
 

There you have it.  The past 8 months in Facebook updates.  I feel better now.
　

　

　

Olympic Fever

We have been glued to the t.v. this past week.  DD & Dig sit in awe watching the Olympics.  I realized the last time the summer games were on, Dig was just 2 years-old and DD was only 4.  So it's pretty much the first time they've been interested and boy, do they love it!  We watch it all.  Swimming, gymnastics, water polo, equestrian, badminton... you name it, we watch it.  And, when the kids aren't watching the Olympics...they're playing Olympics. 

This gold-medalist even went out and picked her own flowers before her brother sang The Star Spangled Banner.

Phew!

It's already almost over, but it's kind of just beginnng for us.  Phew!

Summer has been kind of crazy this year.  It's the first year as a mom that I feel summer has gone too quickly.  I want my kids to feel like they've had a nice long, relaxing and fun summer, like I used to.  This summer, we've been  with busy coaching Dig's t-ball, daily farm chores, Karate, hosting KK's bridal shower, teaching Vacation Bible School, basketball camp, weekly Bible Study, Shawn's wedding week celebrations, a nice long visit from Uncle Steve & Aunt Lisa, training DD's fair calf, volleyball camp, the summer library program, hot long days (and nights!) at the Hardin County Fair, too many trips to Waterloo/CF, a few sewing projects for KK and our unborn nephew-Baby Jackson in Kansas City, fitting in some pool days, dentist appointments, dr. appointments, parades, not to mention Ry's been putting in oodles of hours while his business continues to grow... let's see what else?  It doesn't look like much in print, but it's been busy...and fun! But, we're all ready for everything to slow down for a bit before school starts up. 

And, starting next week, our calendar finally looks like things are about to just that.  As I look at the family calendar, there are only a few things written on it for the next 5 and a half weeks before school starts...one of which is Tim Tebow's birthday...written by a certain little 8 year-old.  {August 14, just incase you're wondering.}   =)


So, until I can muster up enough energy to post about some of those summer events, here's a picture of the 4 dirty, sweaty, hot, and tired Luikens at the fair...make that 5...can't forget about Duncan the bull calf!  (Ironically, he was the only clean one in the bunch!)