Today was a sad day for us. I received a phone call early this morning informing me that our beloved church was on fire. I wasn't prepared for what I saw. This place has embraced my family for the past few years. The community is beyond my description. As I pulled up to the church and the smoke was billowing out, I felt like someone could have knocked me over with a feather. The air was cold and biting, the smell of smoke was dense and choking. It was a feeling of grief. As if a member of our family was dying before me.
As I walked closer to the church, I noticed a large group of people standing in the bank parking lot across the street. There were about 100 parishioners huddling together. This is the church, I thought. This is the community that embraced us. This is the family that has been with us. This is the spirit that binds us together. And Christ was with us today. From the workers in the bank that kept us warm, to the brave firefighters that tried to save all that they could, to the Salvation Army workers that fed us throughout the day. God in all his grace shown through these people. And He will be with us as a family and as a community as we rebuild and grieve, and heal.
This is one of my favorite spots. A million reasons why. The sun comes so gently through that window. The hundreds of hours spent holding babies in that chair. No television in this room. The many conversations with family and friends. Watching my nephew walk for the first time. Admiring my father's laugh when my brother tells a story. Serious talks with my loving husband. Plans for the future. Remembering the past. Homework on the floor. My husband shopping on the couch (our tradition of me buying his clothes and then him giving the thumbs up or down from the comfort of the couch). This corner can be at once a place of solitude and relaxation and the hub of our family.
It really was a productive weekend! The picture above is from one of the hundreds of fountains in Kansas City. I loved the vivid autumn leaves in the water. The change of the seasons in Kansas in one of my favorite parts of living here. You never really get bored with the weather because it is constantly changing. Not long before posts of snow and cold will weave into this blog.
I did get some sewing done this weekend as well. I finished up a few baby blankets that are being sent off later today and some kiddie hot/cold packs. These are made with rice and scented with eucalyptus and mint. Thought that combo might be nice for cold season. If you heat them up, the wet heat and the eucalyptus should help clear up chest tightness on the little ones. We really struggle with that during the cold months in this house.
I love Kansas City. I love my sister. Can you think of a better day? The autumn weather was perfect. A bit of a nip in the air, but not quite cold yet. The Country Club Plaza (for those not from the kc area) is a shopping district...the shopping district in Kansas City. It is a historic section of town with amazing fountains and winding streets. Every store you could want is here! We had the most amazing gelato (thanks Kerry), registered for baby gifts, and had a great lunch. Part of the fun is just walking through the streets and window shopping! And don't get me started on Christmas! I really do miss living in KC sometimes. The cultural aspects alone are worth missing.
Our longest stop of the day was at Pottery Barn Kids. I love this store! Kerry registered for some great stuff (if you are a friend of Kerry's you can access her registry online) for sweet little Baby Eddy. The kids had a blast playing with the different wooden toys and props. Parker was especially fond of this puppet show stage and a magic set. Maybe some good Christmas gift ideas there. I know there are no crafty goodies, no major kiddo milestones in this post, but today was a great day. I really need to take note more often of the really great days. Thanks Kerry, thanks for sharing your day and your city with us.
Where to begin...oh where to begin! This is about half of the fabric earmarked for current projects! Other projects need finishing touches (finished pics coming soon). I went to three fabric stores yesterday and was simply so overwhelmed I am going to have to go back. I have a tendency to shop with a notepad and find the patterns I like, jot them down, and wait f or them to go on sale (or get a mailer coupon). Much to my surprise all three stores had almost everything on my list on sale! This is actually much more difficult for me. I stood in front of bolts on top of bolts, contemplating which ones would go home with me. The result of this shopping trip was surprising. I came home with very little. The circus fabric for a baby blanket, the ballet fabric for Nutcracker gifts, and some Christmas fabric for gift pouches. All told, about $10. I knew I would need to go home, let all of the goodness soak in, and then go back. Wish me luck!
Can anyone say sugar hangover?! I didn't know if I was going to be able to peel the kiddos out of bed this morning or not! This is our first Halloween in a kid rich neighborhood. What an experience. The kids were blissfully unaware of the 34 degree temperature (an item I was acutely aware of...i drew the walking straw and Will drew the handing out candy straw). They ran from house to house, at one point even screaming at the witch who came to life when the kids tried to get a piece of her candy (creative neighbors). Parker made the first round, but headed home for some cartoons early (smart boy).
The girlies had parties at school yesterday as well. All of the grades paraded their costumes. Fall cupcakes, punch in dry ice, and candy, candy, and more candy. There is more candy in my house right now than I buy in an entire year! Hope everone had a safe and happy Halloween!
What a difference a day makes. 75 degrees today in Topeka. But wait...it is the midwest...oh yes, it will be 45 degrees and windy tomorrow! What a great Halloween! I have a sick little red head home from school today. Hopefully she will be fine for all of the festivities tomorrow! Is it bad that I have no plans yet for what I'm making the kiddos for school? I'm thinking orange rice krispie treats for Parker and iced sugar cookis for the girls. Dunno yet. I'm sure whatever I end up with will be on the blog later! Wish me luck! I need to take the boy outside so we can enjoy this last little bit of indian summer!
So the 50's theme is in the scrap pile (literally). My mother-in-law sent up a cape she made for a Superman costume for the boy. He was not all that impressed...the store bought costume that came in the box from grandma was much more appealing...go figure a four year old. Morgan, on the other hand, fell in love with it. She was trying to convince me that a bright red cape would go well with the pink flowers I was diligently hand sewing on the circle skirt. With one flower down and 3 to go (each was taking about an hour to stitch) I thought we might be able to rethink this costume. We pulled the pins and the stitches out of the flowers. Then my precious little red head said "how about little red riding hood"? Genius. Actually, she is going as little red riding cape. She's thrilled to pieces. Thanks for the start Grandma Vicki! I had enough time left over to make my first bag. A little rough around the edges, but I think I could get the hang of this! Hope you all are having a great weekend!
So Morogan's Halloween costume is on the top of my wip list this week. the skirt went together no problem, but sewing the flowers on may take a bit longer. She wanted a poodle skirt, then decided she didn't really ike dogs as much as she liked flowers. Hence, the 50s flower skirt and not a poodle skirt.
Yes please...I'll take one of each! Isn't the pumpkin in the back about as cute as they get?! Janielle and I took the boys on a trip to the pumpkin patch today. It was windy, cold, and short lived. The boys were terribly upset when we pulled them away with their purple fingers and bright red cheeks. It really has been a perfect fall day. A bite in the wind. The leaves changing colors. Pumpkins and gourds ready to decorate and carve. The next post should have the fruit of our labor in that department. We were blessed this weekend with my family. One person noticeably missing. Ben celebrated his 30th birthday and we were all able to get together for a few days. It is amazing to me how close we all are. I could never ask for better friends than my siblings (and their spouses).
The next few pictures are of Parker's favorite spot at the pumpkin patch. I think he jumped into this hay 20 times. What fun to be a 4 year old boy!
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Best Commercial Ever
As many of you know, my dad has been deployed to Iraq since May of this year. He sent me this clip in an email last night. Teared up a bit. We are all so very proud of your service Dad! Thanks for being a credit!
Aren't these guys a riot?! Went shopping with the two toe heads today ( and grandma and aunt janielle of course). Parker still isn't quite sure he's ok. He was pretty secure in being the baby of the family. Kerry's little guy is going to rock his poor little grandma centered world. I think he'll get over it when they are all old enough to do his bidding (being the oldest won't be so bad).
On to the picture of the lunch bag.
Morgan is the only one of my kids that is bizarrely picky. She's not like normal kid picky. Normal kids only like pbj and chips. Hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Not my Morgan. We have struggled with her school lunches this year. She doesn't like the school's lunches (who can blame her). She won't eat chicken noodle soup in a thermos. She won't touch a sandwich. Salad has been a good lunch item, but its wearing thin. We had a revelation Monday. She packed dry cereal in her thermos and bought milk at school. Genius. The principal called and told me she was sending her son with cereal the next day! Nutritious ...easy...she'll eat it...yup, all the things a lunch needs!
I have big plans for the weekend! I have quite a few works in progress. The fabric above is earmarked for a purse. Wish me luck on that. I just love the colors and the flowers.
Went through my small pieces this morning and got them all folded up and took a mental inventory. Forgot I had a few of those pieces...i love the jump roping little girls on the green. Parker looks excited. He started to dig into that fabric box while I was taking pics of the fabric on the table...he gave me that look unprompted. Not quite sure what to make out of it. He picked out the green jump rope and the red pattern. Says he needs a blanket for his teddy. How do you say no to that?
Of course I have the ever present pile of baby blankets to finish. All the farther I have gotten on this batch is the shopping and the washing. The washing takes about as long as anything else. I always have sooooo much laundry. Washing fabric for sewing seems to get pushed to the end of the line. Well, wish me luck. I fully intend on sewing this weekend. Of course it is Nutcracker season, Will's off, and intentions are just that...
I really love this time of year. The changing of the seasons in Kansas can be so dramatic. A friend of our took this picture and I think it says it all. Looking through the green of summer to the changing colors of the fall. It is brisk today. The air has that little bite... makes you shiver just a little. Invigorating. I have been nesting a little bit today. Changing the clothes in the kids closets, dusting the fireplace, and finding some new sewing projects to start. Thank God for all of the seasons he gives us.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
(Can ) Father-son bond of Dick and Rick Hoyt
[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay For their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.
But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life. This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an Institution.''
But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.''
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want To do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he Tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore For two weeks.''
That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, It felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''
And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a Single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''
How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you Think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best Time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world Record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to Be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the Time.
``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''
OK, the season is almost over. You won't have to put up with many more Project Runway posts. The season finale part 1 is tomorrow night on Bravo. I'm sooooo excited! And Tim Gunn...who couldn't use a guy like that cheering in your corner?
I have been blessed recently with many friends with new babies. These are my favorite kind if babies. Babies I can hold and kiss and snuggle. Babies I even babysit on occasion. Babies I DON'T have to get up with in the middle of the night! The neighbor across the street had a sweet baby girl last Monday...8 lbs 15oz and cheeks I want to each for lunch! I had the fabric for these blankets and burpies, and a few were in various stages of being done. I had a blissful day at home on Friday and managed to FINISH all of the ones slated. I still have a few yet to begin, but for now, having 4 done was a pretty big accomplishment.
Could this be the cutest pregnant person EVER! I think so. We share the same DNA, but I never looked that good pregnant. Its hard for me to see my baby sister getting ready to have her own baby. I keep thinking of how many times I did her hair before school, how she would rag tag along behind Ben and I, and how she has been the best aunt ever. I know she will be an amazing mom. I feel very blessed that God graced me with a sister like Kerry. I have amazing friends, but there will never be anyone like her...my sister.
I can't believe he's four. It just can't be right. He has officially graduated from being a toddler. No more bottles, diapers, and spitup for the Wise family. A little sad if you ask me. Parker has turned into this sensitive, intuitive, active little man. He loves to play with his "guys" trains, and coloring books. And lucky for me, he still loves to cuddle up in a big chair with his mama to read a book. I keep telling him he's such a big boy these days. A few days ago he looked back at me and said, "I'm still just a small boy mama". And that's just fine with me. The baby days are over, but this sweet little blonde guy can be my "small boy" for a few more years.
Oh how I love the boy in footie jammies! There was just enough of a nip in the air to break in the new pair of footies! There is just something about a little guy dragging his feet across the kitchen floor to hear that shhh..shhhh...shhhh sound. It means the beginning of cool nights and soft blankets and hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. It means curling up with a good book and a warm blanket ( and most of the time a warm kiddo or two). I know there will be a few warm days left, but what a cute preview of things to come!
I can't even begin to tell you how many lists I have going right now!
I have my list for MOPS tomorrow (Mother's of Preschoolers). 1. Set up 2. Finish baby gifts 3. Label nametags posts
My list for Convention: 1. Pack 2. Make business cards 3. Put together gifts for Council
My list for my family: 1. Make list for week of events 2. Do laundry 3. Clean house 4. Kiss kids
Why does it seem that when you go out of town for a few days, you have to plan it for months in advance? This is a full force operation here! I have forgotten things on each of the lists already, and I have my normal everyday list as well. Oh to have a life without a list for only a day!
I have to confess an obsession. I LOVE Project Runway. I am not a big reality TV watcher, and I am certainly not a fashionista. I am, however, addicted to this show. The characters are creative and hilarious. Tim Gunn and his "make it work". Heidi Klum, anyone with the name Heidi can't be half bad. I had to replace West Wing on Wednesday nights with something. Who knew it would be a silk lined, chartruse draped, ridiculous show like this! Pure entertainment.
This is a picture of our new kitchen color. I had a hard time getting an accurate picture of the color. It is actually more green. I LOVE it! Will has mixed feelings. I will try to post a pic of a larger space later! What do you all think?!
Pipe cleaners. The staple art supply of any good and crafty mom. They foster imagination. The kids were making dolls and hats and dogs and cats and all other manor of beings. Parker was so proud of his heart balloon (made with a pipe cleaner bent into a heart shape ... sorta...he is 3...and another as the string) he had to show me up close. I went from reveling in the brilliance of my creative geniuses to writhing in pain. Little man actually poked me in the eye with the pointed end of the pipe cleaner...making sure I saw how perfectly brilliant he was. I'm positive I scared the crud out of the poor little guy. To make a very long and very dramatic story that spanned across several days and included the incompetence of a Walgreens pharmacy employee short, I scratched my cornea and have been paying for it ever since. I showed up for church today looking a little glazed. The one eye looked a little lazy and not just a little like I had a few too many the night before. All is well now. The eye drops have worked and I am pretty sure that I have not crushed my child's creative spirit. I did however, throw away ALL of the pipe cleaners in the house (and my mom's house as well...did I mention this all happened in Wichita... while Will was working nights in T-town... fun drive). We are a strictly crayon and playdoh family now.
The air is cold, Christmas is near, the gifts, the activities ... wait ... never mind. It is still August isn't it? I may well be, but we started our fall and Christmas festivities this week. Nutcracker Auditions. We had a quiet summer of fun and traveling. The quiet is gone from the Wise household. With school is full swing, Sunday School starting back up, dance lessons, and Nutcracker, we may never have a quiet moment again! I wouldn't have it any other way! Abby has ambitions of playing a child in the party scene, while Morgan wants to be a mouse this year (those are supposed to me mouse hands in the picture). We will know in a few weeks. The sun is shining, my grass is still green, and the flowers are still in bloom. Not quite Christmas yet, but we are well on our way now.
Isn't this one of the cutest babies ever? Look at those round cheeks, tiny hands, and dark hair. Aside from my own perfect trio, this baby is one of my favorites. This pic is circa 1979. I was messing around with some of the old slides my folks took when we were little today, and kept coming back to this one. My sister Kerry was one of the most beautiful babies ever. I can't help but wonder if this is what her little one will look like. Reflecting on the three of us growing up, and watching my three grow has been amazing. I cherish the relationship I have with my brother and sister (although you couldn't have told me that 20 years ago). i also praise my parents for managing three lively kiddos all those years. I am getting my taste of the chaos of three right now! What pulls me through is the gift we have in each other. Thanks Mom and Dad for not stopping with perfection (hee hee). I don't know what I would do without them.
I swear I forgot what was rain was like! Topeka has been in some magic bubble recently with all of the percipitaion moving just to the north or south. I mean really, look at my lawn. Shades of brown. What amazes me to no end is that the grass has gotten greener during the past few days of rain. I can put the sprinkler on all day and just get another shade of blah. God had to put his magic touch on it I suppose. Rain reminds of me of renewal. This time of year yields us more new things than any other time. New teachers, new lessons, new neighbors (we are sooo sad to see our old ones leave). But just as the rain adds color to the grass these new experiences give color to our family as well. So soak it up! Bring on the RAIN!
The first day of school. Music to my weary ears. We always have fun during the summer, but by the time mid August rolls around we are over it. The girls miss their friends, Parker misses having his mom to himself, and I miss the mind I lost in mid May. The girls were up and ready by 7am. Lots of time for a good breakfast and PICTURES.
Parker and I spent the afternoon with one of our favorite families, the Holmans. Chloe and Sophia don't start school until next Monday. I had the honor of babysitting the brood. Sophia doesn't need much babysitting, neither does Chloe, but the 7 week old twins (David in the yellow, Andrew in the blue) needed an adult in the house. Holding those precious boys made my day. Parker called them yellow baby and blue baby all day.
This active little boy had a full day. Fun with the neighbors, mommy to himself, spoiled by the Holman girls. What more could a boy need. Here comes the sad part. Poor boy was running through the hearth room and caught his foot on the ottaman. He face planted into the entertainment center. Much blood followed. As well as tears. Both of us. This picture doesn't do justice, and I have a feeling it will be black and blue in the morning. sigh. sniff, sniff.
Anyone who knows Abby knows that she is obsessed with the Food Channel. Rachel Ray in particular. She wanted to cook dinner last night. And that she did. Waffles were the menu of choice. She prepped the batter and the iron, scrambled some eggs with ham and cheese. set the table, and served everything up. In the midst she even had time to be nice to her baby brother. I have never seen her so proud of herself in my life. Then came the bad news. She was basking in all of our compliments when I told her that part of cooking was cleaning up the mess. She wasn't thrilled, but she cleaned up dinner without a complaint. As she was drying the skillet she turned to me and said, "I'm exhausted. This is WAY more work than Rachel Ray does". You said it sister! I think I caught a glimpse of her future as a chef, and a mom. So very proud.
As I walked closer to the church, I noticed a large group of people standing in the bank parking lot across the street. There were about 100 parishioners huddling together. This is the church, I thought. This is the community that embraced us. This is the family that has been with us. This is the spirit that binds us together. And Christ was with us today. From the workers in the bank that kept us warm, to the brave firefighters that tried to save all that they could, to the Salvation Army workers that fed us throughout the day. God in all his grace shown through these people. And He will be with us as a family and as a community as we rebuild and grieve, and heal.
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