As I type...

I am watching Gabe crawl back and forth between two toys, pulling himself up to his knees to reach what he wants. He is once again making huge strides and figuring out how to achieve what he wants. He has officially pulled himself up to standing without any help. I had put him to bed just a little while ago and as I was setting out my running shoes (optimistic for a morning run - we'll see) Gabe started fussing. He has gotten into the habit of throwing his pacifier out of the bed, then either wanting it back to go to sleep, or to chuck it again. I walked in to find him pulled up to his knees and peering over the side at his pacifier on the floor. It was a funny sight since the older boys never pulled up on the side of their cribs at this age and only did so rarely as they got older. They NEVER tried to climb over the rails - which usually surprises and baffles most parents when I tell them. When I walked in, Gabe started smiling at me, indicating he was not necessarily close to sleeping yet. As I stood there, unable to supress my own grin even knowing I was no longer going to bed as planned, he grabbed the rail and pulled all the way up to standing. To my knowledge this is the first time he has done this, and Josh (who walked in behind me) and I got to witness it. I don't know about Josh, but I felt a multitude of emotions at this one action. I'm not going to gush or get emotional, but it was truly wonderful to see. He's getting busier by the day - and life is getting more and more intresting...

A little earlier in the evening I was summoned into Justin and Kendrick's room. Despite already being tucked into bed with their lullabye CD softly playing, they wanted to talk about VBS. I tried all afternoon to get them to tell me about it, but they were too busy with their own summertime afternoon activities to stop and talk. Now they were ready and not about to be put off. I could have sternly reminded them we went on a late bike ride and they needed to get to sleep for VBS the next day and during the school year I probably would have. Josh had Gabe, so I opted to sit on the bed and let them tell me about their adventures. I enjoyed hearing the excitement in their voices - especially when their initial reaction to VBS was a little dubious. It was obvious they really listened and got involved in the activities. As I was getting up to leave the room, Justin hugged me and said he was glad they signed up for Bible school because he was really having fun.

So as I sit and type, also watching Gabe play and ponder, I also notice the handful of toys that haven't been put away. There are items on the dining room table I meant to put away and a bag by the door full of stuff I meant to sort through and put away. Oh well. It'll be there tomorrow. Tonight I got to sit and listen to my busy boys happily tell me about their day - won't there possibly come a day when I find out everything from their friends, if I'm lucky? I also got to watch Gabe achieve another milestone. He's sitting just a few feet away with a the tv remote he pulled down from the little table next to the rocker - and rolling his eyes at me. Oh yes, that is a new trick. He loves to roll his eyes up and then looks back at us and grins. So the stuff I meant to do can wait.

Happy Father's day

I made a slideshow for Josh for today - the boys helped pick out the picture of themselves. It does take a few minutes to view, but it was fun and I think Josh enjoyed the little trip down "Dad's Memory Lane". We had a nice day, but played it a bit low-key since Josh had to work. Yesterday we went swimming and today I fixed breakfast, we went to mass then out to eat with Josh's family.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Busy Weekend

The purpose of our trip up North this weekend was to say our final goodbyes to Grandma - she passed away in January. We weren't sure we were even going to make it at one point. Unfortunately we didn't know anything about the torrential rains that swept through central Indiana until we were witnessing the after-effects. As we got closer to Terre Haute, we finally picked up a local radio station and were astonished to hear Vigo county was under a state of emergency for flooding. Sure enough there was water streaming over 41 and rescue boats were coming and going with people and pets. It was surreal. We were right in the middle of a scene straight out of the television. People were standing on the edge of 41, wrapped in blankets and cuddling their pets. Apartment buildings had become islands and a car had drifted into a ditch. We made it through, but then encountered more problems trying to head East on I-70, which was washing away. Hours later we arrived at our hotel in Lebanon with the rest of the family arriving shortly after. Everyone had their own story to tell, but mostly we were all just happy to be done traveling and together.



Several people met Gabe for the first time, including my brother,his wife and his son. It was fun to finally share him with them in person. All three boys had a great time and entertained everyone in our group - and other groups at the hotel as well, I think. Sunday afternoon was the memorial service and final burial of Grandma's ashes. Mike and Dad had their guitars and sang Grandma's favorite hymns. She was a beautiful and courageous lady who has been greatly missed. She had so many great qualities. She certainly perservered through more than her share of family crises and was the glue that held it all together. She had a temper that was formidable, but quick to dissipate and she didn't hold a grudge that I knew of. All are qualities I can only hope to aspire to, but probably the two qualities I admire most would be here adventurous spirit and her ability to laugh at herself. I certainly make more than my share of mistakes, but don't always like to acknowledge them - it would be far better if I could laugh at them and move on. I'm working on it.
**Note on laughing at oneself - I'll let Mom fill you in on her "funny" moment at the memorial. Mom?

Yesterday Josh and the older boys went down to the Children's Museum of Evansville. When they picked me up from work, I figured from the boys' faces they had a good time. No, it was not the excited smiles or little voices telling me about their adventures, rather it was the paint! Kendrick was painted up as a pirate. Justin had his initials "tattooed" on his arm. Not too surprising he didn't want the face paint. I am impressed he let Josh paint his arm. They had a late lunch at IHOP and then got in several rounds of Super Mario Brothers on Josh's vintage Nintendo. All in all, I'd say it sounded like a great "guys day". Since returning from North Carolina, the boys seem to think they need an "agenda" each day. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Inaugural post!

Here we go! This blog will pick up where we left off on Gabe's blog. Justin and Kendrick got back from their vacation in North Carolina yesterday. We really had mixed feelings about the trip. It was both nice and quiet, and then often too quiet! This was a first time trip without us, so even though we really believed they would do well, we just weren't sure. Turns out there was nothing to worry about. They had a great time. Mom and Dad reported that after spending just one night on the boat they went from referring to it as "Grandpa O's boat" to "Our boat". Every day there was somewhere to go and something new to experience. In fact last night as Kendrick was getting ready for bed, I asked him if it would be nice to stay home the next day and he excitedly replied that it would be nice and then after we stayed home for a little bit we could do something really fun like miniature golf or the zoo! He proceeded to run in the other room and announce that we were going to the zoo the next day. I had to work for a while on Thursday and there were no plans to go anywhere. When I broke this news to him, he had a mini-meltdown, finished getting ready for bed and fell asleep in less than two minutes. I don't think it was a problem today. Before I left for work, I got out their little wading pools and the new bug sprinkler Kendrick got for his birthday. I hear they had a lot of fun with this.