Today we did what I hope will become a yearly tradition. We took a drive up to Taylors Falls (about 1 1/2 hours for us) to see the fall colors and enjoy the clean, crisp air. It was, by far, one of the most beautiful Sundays to make this trip as it was 83 and sunny with a light breeze. You can't ask for a more better day in September in Minnesota. The parking was a little ridiculous, but oh well, no big deal.
For those who don't know Taylors Falls, it sits along the banks of the St. Croix River, which marks the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. These river banks, however, are not rolling plains or beach-like, they are lava-formed bluffs with amazing rock formations and glacial potholes. The bluffs along the river are part of the State Park and have a lot of bike and hiking paths. As Kristen was pushing the stroller, we stuck to the bike path. However, that didn't keep us from much of the rock climbing/hiking fun (it's not really climbing up as much as it is hiking across the rock formations).
Kristen and I have been to Taylors Falls numerous times in our youth, but this is the first time we've brought the kids here. It also happens to be the first time the kids (all of them) have ever climbed across this type of rock formation. Even Willow, our 2-year old, got into the fun. You can only imagine what archaic parental instincts kicked in.
Yeah, paranoia; the visions swimming across your eyes as you see your children climbing rocks for the very first time and falling down, plummeting to their death on the rocky banks of the St. Croix River. Or perhaps falling into the disgusting water of the glacial potholes. Or may jumping along, slipping, and cracking their head open, causing blood to flow everywhere and you're running to the nearest hospital.
Of course, none of this happened and the kids did great traversing the rocks for their first time ever. No one got hurt and Harper and Willow always asked for help when they knew they couldn't get down from the spot they were standing. I was always right there and made sure the kids didn't go quite as far as some of the older kids who were traversing the rocks. But that didn't stop my paranoia from picturing the absolute worst from happening.
The funny thing about all of this, is that I've traversed the rocks before. I've also traversed the rocks around Minnehaha in Minneapolis. I've also traversed the rocks around Lake Superior. None of those awful ever happened to me, so why the hell is my mind starting to freak out? I really had to keep myself in check to avoid making the kids panic. As luck would have it, when a parent starts freaking out, that's when their child starts to panic and someone gets hurt. So, I made sure they didn't go too far and always had Willow's hand nearby (she's only 2, I can't let her get too far on the rocks).
At least I know one thing, the next time we do something like this, the kids have done it before and have at least some practice. They know what to do and what not to do to avoid falling and they know how to avoid the nasty ledges. I'm hoping my mind won't picture the worst and we can be a little more adventurous with each trip. After a few years, I'm sure we'll be fully equipped and hiking along those trails like it's nothing!
Until then, I'll make sure my paranoia doesn't get the best of me.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
They May Be Siblings, but They're All Unique
I think I'm going to stick with blogging on Sundays as my other days are filled with other things. So hopefully, every Sunday you'll find new words of wisdom about being a geek dad of six wonderful children!
I was thinking the other day how considerably different our children are. Even though they're siblings and you would think that what you learned from one can be applied to another, it's simply not 100% true. Sure you learn how to deal with temper tantrums or what to do when one of them completely breaks down while you're walking through Target or how to break the sleeping habits of a toddler, but you simply cannot approach each of them in the exact same fashion when it comes to how they handle their life on a day-to-day basis.
Here's how our children look: Riannah is the athletic girl who really stopped caring about toys years ago. Nolan is the silly boy who doesn't really know what he wants and changes on a yearly basis. Harper is our girly girl who loves clothes and shoes. Willow is our mothering girl who loves to do things with her dollies or other things that are mothering-like. I wonder what Isla's going to be like?
Before your kids turn 2, this doesn't really mean much. Most babies can be approached in a very similar fashion for those first two years, although there are still little things here and there to be aware of. Not every baby will have the same sleeping or eating schedule and not every baby will be happy being held the same way. But that's not what I'm talking about here.
What I'm referring to is how you approach your children as they grow up and you begin to recognize what their likes and dislikes are. The more those show, the more you can hone in on the best ones and attempt to exploit them. This is very important when it comes to birthday and Christmas gifts. Sure your kids will tell you they really want this toy or that toy, especially if they saw it on TV or a friend or cousin has it, but do they REALLY want it?
We've bought dozens and dozens of gifts for our children that entertain them for 2-3 months and then gets shoved aside to collect dust. Those just happen to be the gifts they really want... apparently. However, what you notice is that they're actually playing with something that was a gift you happened upon and thought they'd like it; not really knowing if they would or not. And then, 9 months later, they're still playing with it. For our children, it's usually the $50 gift they don't truly like, but the $25 one is super awesome! Of course, if you have multiple children like us that all have different tastes, you can't expect the toys to get handed down from child to child and keep them happy. It just doesn't work 100% that way.
That's just one why siblings are unique from each other - their tastes in gifts. The second is entertainment that doesn't involve gifts but rather involves interaction between child and parent. That's usually where things get difficult as you try to please them all at the same time with a single activity, but it doesn't work as well as you'd like.
So what do you do? What we do is find little things that entertain all of them for a short period of time. A good example of this is today after dinner we pulled the car and van out of the garage and let the kids ride around and play in the garage, doing whatever they'd like (jump rope, hula hoops, scooter, or bike). They all enjoyed it, but some of them probably could have done it much longer than the others. Another thing we do on a regular basis is go somewhere and try to make it fun for all in some sort of way. An example of this is the zoo. We'll go to the play area so the kids can get the ants out of their pants, do plenty of walking, get some cotton candy for fun, see the animals each one likes, and basically do whatever we can to make the overall trip enjoyable for all of them. It's basically a collection of little things in one trip...
The third is activities the kids enjoy without us needing to be involved. Nolan likes riding his bike, but Riannah doesn't seem to enjoy it as much; she'd rather ride her scooter. Harper likes riding her bike, but she's very hesitant if she's not riding on a mostly flat surface. Willow doesn't ride for long and would rather run or walk. This means that an after-dinner play session or walk through the neighborhood can be tricky if each one doesn't "move" at the same pace. But we try to let each one ride whatever they'd like to ride and then we accommodate their speed. When you're a parent, however, you are the one that has to figure out which style of riding each child prefers and hopefully exploit that. This could result in a cool gift idea or maybe lessons during the summer time.
It takes a fair amount of time to figure each child out. And when you think you've figured it out, they throw you for a loop and you realize you're not quite there. But it definitely takes a good eye to read your children's likes and dislikes without them telling you, because many of them won't tell you. Sometimes you have to ask, sometimes you have to just sign them up and see how they do, and sometimes you just lay out a bunch of options and see which one they like the best.
Even though they have the same parents, there's always something new to learn from subsequent children.
I was thinking the other day how considerably different our children are. Even though they're siblings and you would think that what you learned from one can be applied to another, it's simply not 100% true. Sure you learn how to deal with temper tantrums or what to do when one of them completely breaks down while you're walking through Target or how to break the sleeping habits of a toddler, but you simply cannot approach each of them in the exact same fashion when it comes to how they handle their life on a day-to-day basis.
Here's how our children look: Riannah is the athletic girl who really stopped caring about toys years ago. Nolan is the silly boy who doesn't really know what he wants and changes on a yearly basis. Harper is our girly girl who loves clothes and shoes. Willow is our mothering girl who loves to do things with her dollies or other things that are mothering-like. I wonder what Isla's going to be like?
Before your kids turn 2, this doesn't really mean much. Most babies can be approached in a very similar fashion for those first two years, although there are still little things here and there to be aware of. Not every baby will have the same sleeping or eating schedule and not every baby will be happy being held the same way. But that's not what I'm talking about here.
What I'm referring to is how you approach your children as they grow up and you begin to recognize what their likes and dislikes are. The more those show, the more you can hone in on the best ones and attempt to exploit them. This is very important when it comes to birthday and Christmas gifts. Sure your kids will tell you they really want this toy or that toy, especially if they saw it on TV or a friend or cousin has it, but do they REALLY want it?
We've bought dozens and dozens of gifts for our children that entertain them for 2-3 months and then gets shoved aside to collect dust. Those just happen to be the gifts they really want... apparently. However, what you notice is that they're actually playing with something that was a gift you happened upon and thought they'd like it; not really knowing if they would or not. And then, 9 months later, they're still playing with it. For our children, it's usually the $50 gift they don't truly like, but the $25 one is super awesome! Of course, if you have multiple children like us that all have different tastes, you can't expect the toys to get handed down from child to child and keep them happy. It just doesn't work 100% that way.
That's just one why siblings are unique from each other - their tastes in gifts. The second is entertainment that doesn't involve gifts but rather involves interaction between child and parent. That's usually where things get difficult as you try to please them all at the same time with a single activity, but it doesn't work as well as you'd like.
So what do you do? What we do is find little things that entertain all of them for a short period of time. A good example of this is today after dinner we pulled the car and van out of the garage and let the kids ride around and play in the garage, doing whatever they'd like (jump rope, hula hoops, scooter, or bike). They all enjoyed it, but some of them probably could have done it much longer than the others. Another thing we do on a regular basis is go somewhere and try to make it fun for all in some sort of way. An example of this is the zoo. We'll go to the play area so the kids can get the ants out of their pants, do plenty of walking, get some cotton candy for fun, see the animals each one likes, and basically do whatever we can to make the overall trip enjoyable for all of them. It's basically a collection of little things in one trip...
The third is activities the kids enjoy without us needing to be involved. Nolan likes riding his bike, but Riannah doesn't seem to enjoy it as much; she'd rather ride her scooter. Harper likes riding her bike, but she's very hesitant if she's not riding on a mostly flat surface. Willow doesn't ride for long and would rather run or walk. This means that an after-dinner play session or walk through the neighborhood can be tricky if each one doesn't "move" at the same pace. But we try to let each one ride whatever they'd like to ride and then we accommodate their speed. When you're a parent, however, you are the one that has to figure out which style of riding each child prefers and hopefully exploit that. This could result in a cool gift idea or maybe lessons during the summer time.
It takes a fair amount of time to figure each child out. And when you think you've figured it out, they throw you for a loop and you realize you're not quite there. But it definitely takes a good eye to read your children's likes and dislikes without them telling you, because many of them won't tell you. Sometimes you have to ask, sometimes you have to just sign them up and see how they do, and sometimes you just lay out a bunch of options and see which one they like the best.
Even though they have the same parents, there's always something new to learn from subsequent children.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
The Baby Translator
You may not know it, but I'm a renown translator of baby gibberish. I have a bit of a sixth sense, knowing what a baby is thinking and saying, without being able to formulate words. It's like a gift.
I have transcribed for you one of my many encounters of being a baby translator. This one comes from an unnamed male after waking up from a nap. Enjoy.
(Opens eyes, visibly groggy.) I see that large star and moon and still in the sky. I don't understand why they never seem to move, but they are there now. My stomach makes weird noises, I must be hungry. Maybe today I will go out and find a rabbit and forage for some berries. Yes, berries would be nice today. But, where is my bow? Why can't I find my bow? How will I hunt without my bow? Forget it, I will go find a new one.
Wait... what's wrong with my legs? Why do they move around so quickly, but I cannot find a way to stand on them? Oh my God; MY LEGS ARE BROKEN! How am I going to get out of this place and find if any rabbits have tripped my snares or hunt them down with my bow? I know, I will call upon that lady giant, she always has the answers. She is like a mystical oracle; always knowing what I want, and what to say.
(Eyes squeeze together. "Waaah! Waaah!) Lady giant! I request your assistance! I need your help; it appears my legs are broken and I am absolutely famished. Oh good, here she comes. I see a glimpse of the man giant she often walks with. I like him too; he's quite comforting at times. Oh yes! Lady giant, please free me of this bed and bring me to my snares! Oh, and please grab my bow while you're at it.
What? What? Why are you sitting down? What are you doing? Are you pressing me against your breast? Why must you grab my head and... mhmhmhmhmh... Oh... this white liquid is so soothing. It is so sweet. I can't believe how it relieves my stomach pains. I will speak to the man giant when I am done. I am sure he will find my bow and take me to my snares.
Oh, silly me, I have gotten some of this white liquid around my mouth. I would clean it off, but I can't seem to bring my hands to my mouth. It's as if... oh my God; are my arms broken too? OH THE HUMANITY! Lady giant!? Why are you placing me on your shoulder? I demand my bow... stop patting my back like that, it will not help me (Belches loudly).
Amazing. The lady giant has quenched my hunger, and now my stomach no longer pains me. Maybe I will hunt another time. Oh, she seems to be moving me around, pressing my head against her skin. WAIT! I hear something. The gentle rhythm of the drums. I remember that sound. I remember hearing that sound in my dreams. I remember how soft it was, and how it calmed me... it.. always helped... to keep... me... from... (Falls asleep).
(Opens eyes again.) Dammit! That confounded moon and star are still up; and still they have not moved! What kind of sorcery is this? And why can I see sunlight coming in all around me. I will call for the man giant, he will have the answers. Oh... what is going on? There is a crinkling sound all around my bottom. OH MY GOD! THAT THING AROUND MY BOTTOM JUST GOT REALLY WARM! What is happening to me? My stomach is rumbling again... oh my! What is that awful smell? And why does my bottom feel so disgusting? I must call the man giant in here immediately to fix this! (Cries loudly. "Waah! Waah!")
I can't seem to understand these words that stream from my mouth, but the man and lady giants seem quite attuned to my needs. Ah yes, man giant, please fix my bottom. Something appears to have grown beneath me while I stare at this unmoving moon and star.
(On the changing station) MY WORD! What is that awful smell? Why do you lift my bottom that w...! Oh, thank goodness. You have repaired my bottom; I was certain something dreadful was wrong. Yes, please place another one of those cloth things down there. They help to keep the draft out and keep my bottom nice and warm.
Please, help me with my clothing. My arms and legs appear to be broken and I cannot do it myself. What?! What color is that! Wh... m... BLUE! Present me with an appropriate color like red or brown! I cannot go hunting in blue! Ugh... man giant... we will have a serious discussion soon about these clothes you present me - OOH! I love that squeaky noise! Will you please make that noise again? I don't know what it is, but that noise just makes me laugh!
Thank you man giant for clothing and entertaining me. I ask that you bring me to our hunting grounds and I will show you how to be a real man.
I hope this made you smile! :)
I have transcribed for you one of my many encounters of being a baby translator. This one comes from an unnamed male after waking up from a nap. Enjoy.
(Opens eyes, visibly groggy.) I see that large star and moon and still in the sky. I don't understand why they never seem to move, but they are there now. My stomach makes weird noises, I must be hungry. Maybe today I will go out and find a rabbit and forage for some berries. Yes, berries would be nice today. But, where is my bow? Why can't I find my bow? How will I hunt without my bow? Forget it, I will go find a new one.
Wait... what's wrong with my legs? Why do they move around so quickly, but I cannot find a way to stand on them? Oh my God; MY LEGS ARE BROKEN! How am I going to get out of this place and find if any rabbits have tripped my snares or hunt them down with my bow? I know, I will call upon that lady giant, she always has the answers. She is like a mystical oracle; always knowing what I want, and what to say.
(Eyes squeeze together. "Waaah! Waaah!) Lady giant! I request your assistance! I need your help; it appears my legs are broken and I am absolutely famished. Oh good, here she comes. I see a glimpse of the man giant she often walks with. I like him too; he's quite comforting at times. Oh yes! Lady giant, please free me of this bed and bring me to my snares! Oh, and please grab my bow while you're at it.
What? What? Why are you sitting down? What are you doing? Are you pressing me against your breast? Why must you grab my head and... mhmhmhmhmh... Oh... this white liquid is so soothing. It is so sweet. I can't believe how it relieves my stomach pains. I will speak to the man giant when I am done. I am sure he will find my bow and take me to my snares.
Oh, silly me, I have gotten some of this white liquid around my mouth. I would clean it off, but I can't seem to bring my hands to my mouth. It's as if... oh my God; are my arms broken too? OH THE HUMANITY! Lady giant!? Why are you placing me on your shoulder? I demand my bow... stop patting my back like that, it will not help me (Belches loudly).
Amazing. The lady giant has quenched my hunger, and now my stomach no longer pains me. Maybe I will hunt another time. Oh, she seems to be moving me around, pressing my head against her skin. WAIT! I hear something. The gentle rhythm of the drums. I remember that sound. I remember hearing that sound in my dreams. I remember how soft it was, and how it calmed me... it.. always helped... to keep... me... from... (Falls asleep).
(Opens eyes again.) Dammit! That confounded moon and star are still up; and still they have not moved! What kind of sorcery is this? And why can I see sunlight coming in all around me. I will call for the man giant, he will have the answers. Oh... what is going on? There is a crinkling sound all around my bottom. OH MY GOD! THAT THING AROUND MY BOTTOM JUST GOT REALLY WARM! What is happening to me? My stomach is rumbling again... oh my! What is that awful smell? And why does my bottom feel so disgusting? I must call the man giant in here immediately to fix this! (Cries loudly. "Waah! Waah!")
I can't seem to understand these words that stream from my mouth, but the man and lady giants seem quite attuned to my needs. Ah yes, man giant, please fix my bottom. Something appears to have grown beneath me while I stare at this unmoving moon and star.
(On the changing station) MY WORD! What is that awful smell? Why do you lift my bottom that w...! Oh, thank goodness. You have repaired my bottom; I was certain something dreadful was wrong. Yes, please place another one of those cloth things down there. They help to keep the draft out and keep my bottom nice and warm.
Please, help me with my clothing. My arms and legs appear to be broken and I cannot do it myself. What?! What color is that! Wh... m... BLUE! Present me with an appropriate color like red or brown! I cannot go hunting in blue! Ugh... man giant... we will have a serious discussion soon about these clothes you present me - OOH! I love that squeaky noise! Will you please make that noise again? I don't know what it is, but that noise just makes me laugh!
Thank you man giant for clothing and entertaining me. I ask that you bring me to our hunting grounds and I will show you how to be a real man.
I hope this made you smile! :)
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Every Parent Needs a Copy of Queen's Greatest Hits
I don't know what it is about Queen, but every one of our children love listening and singing to their songs. It all starts with playing We Will Rock You and showing them the stomp-stomp-clap. Then, they're hooked! Willow, only 2 now, loves listening to We Will Rock You and gets excited when Another One Bites the Dust comes on. Every time she asks for it, she asks me to play "this" song while she smacks her legs twice and claps once.
All four of our children will stop their bickering and crankiness to sing We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, and Another One Bites the Dust. Today, coming back from Pizza Ranch, we let the CD keep on going and got to listen to many other Queen songs, which Riannah and Nolan seemed to enjoyed (they're able to grasp the words much faster than their younger siblings). And yet, while I drive along and listen, I just can't put my finger on why Queen is always a hit with our children.
There are some things I can point out about this Greatest Hits CD. First, it's filled with a lot of excellent rock songs from the 70s that sound a lot like rock music from the 80s, 90s, through today (I don't mean pop, I mean actual rock music). Queen's musical style compared to today's rock artists isn't really that different. They don't try to get all weird artistically on the guitar or stick in 80-minute drum solos. It's just good music and good lyrics.
Second, Freddie Mercury was a damn good singer! It's not just his voice that I enjoy listening to though, it's the spirit and enthusiasm in that voice that tells you he really loved singing and really loved the songs he sang. Yes there are plenty of good singers nowadays and have been for decades, but many rock bands have over-the-top singers or ones that sound like they'd sell out at the first opportunity (I'm looking at you Mark McGrath...).
Third, the lyrics are easy to hear. I don't mean that they're always easy to understand, but that you can hear the lyrics over the instruments. It's the perfect blend and balance of music that completely avoids overwhelming the senses with too much of this or too much of that (like dance music with ridiculously loud beats that drown out the lyrics).
Fourth, they're good songs to listen to when with the family. This is especially true when you have younger children, but how quickly do you get tired of baby and children's songs (don't make me shove those ipples and bininis up your a$$!), songs sung by children (it's just not the same, you can admit it), Disney songs (it's cute until you've heard it for the 1,000th time), or kids soundtracks. It's just rock 'n' roll, and it's music that adults and children alike can enjoy. In fact, it's even music that the kids can enjoy through their teens and into early adulthood.
Fifth, music is a wonderful way to allow your children to escape the pains of being a sibling. It's amazing how when We Will Rock You comes on, the kids stop arguing and pestering and start clapping and singing! It's even more fun when they learn the words (or at least think they've learned the words) and sing along. I only wish I could record it sometime and play it back to them when they're in High School. "See, you used to sing and dance in the van, and you didn't even know all the words."
All four of our children will stop their bickering and crankiness to sing We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, and Another One Bites the Dust. Today, coming back from Pizza Ranch, we let the CD keep on going and got to listen to many other Queen songs, which Riannah and Nolan seemed to enjoyed (they're able to grasp the words much faster than their younger siblings). And yet, while I drive along and listen, I just can't put my finger on why Queen is always a hit with our children.
There are some things I can point out about this Greatest Hits CD. First, it's filled with a lot of excellent rock songs from the 70s that sound a lot like rock music from the 80s, 90s, through today (I don't mean pop, I mean actual rock music). Queen's musical style compared to today's rock artists isn't really that different. They don't try to get all weird artistically on the guitar or stick in 80-minute drum solos. It's just good music and good lyrics.
Second, Freddie Mercury was a damn good singer! It's not just his voice that I enjoy listening to though, it's the spirit and enthusiasm in that voice that tells you he really loved singing and really loved the songs he sang. Yes there are plenty of good singers nowadays and have been for decades, but many rock bands have over-the-top singers or ones that sound like they'd sell out at the first opportunity (I'm looking at you Mark McGrath...).
Third, the lyrics are easy to hear. I don't mean that they're always easy to understand, but that you can hear the lyrics over the instruments. It's the perfect blend and balance of music that completely avoids overwhelming the senses with too much of this or too much of that (like dance music with ridiculously loud beats that drown out the lyrics).
Fourth, they're good songs to listen to when with the family. This is especially true when you have younger children, but how quickly do you get tired of baby and children's songs (don't make me shove those ipples and bininis up your a$$!), songs sung by children (it's just not the same, you can admit it), Disney songs (it's cute until you've heard it for the 1,000th time), or kids soundtracks. It's just rock 'n' roll, and it's music that adults and children alike can enjoy. In fact, it's even music that the kids can enjoy through their teens and into early adulthood.
Fifth, music is a wonderful way to allow your children to escape the pains of being a sibling. It's amazing how when We Will Rock You comes on, the kids stop arguing and pestering and start clapping and singing! It's even more fun when they learn the words (or at least think they've learned the words) and sing along. I only wish I could record it sometime and play it back to them when they're in High School. "See, you used to sing and dance in the van, and you didn't even know all the words."
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Family Traditions
I love having family traditions. They build memories that our children will hopefully remember for decades and talk about with their spouses and children. They also give our children something to look forward to when those dates come around. Better yet, they get excited when we say that's where we're going today or this coming weekend. Keep in mind I'm not referring to simple holidays...
We have a few, fun traditions.
- Every Easter, we take a trip to Toys 'R' Us and raid their clearance Easter baskets to replenish our outdoor toy bins.
- Every Father's Day we go to Excelsior by Lake Minnetonka, visiting Licks for ice cream and then taking a walk to the beach (although the water is way too cold to swim in).
- Every second or third summer we take a trip to Florida, visiting Kristen's parents and spending a lot of relaxing time at the beach, playing in the Gulf.
- Every August we try to make it out to the Minnesota State Fair.
- Every September we go to Emma Krumbees to pick apples, take pictures, and let the kids play.
- Every October we go to Peter's Pumpkins to pick pumpkins, take pictures, go through the corn maze, and take the hay ride around the farm.
Today we decided to make our yearly trip to Emma Krumbees early. Unfortunately, we'll have to go back because they weren't picking Haralson apples yet; those aren't allowed until late September. For those who like apples, you'll know what I mean. We also decided to visit the festival they have there every September and October. This was the first time we've done that, and I'm glad we did. The kids really had a lot of fun, especially when they got to climb the giant pile of hay and ride on the little tractor-train thing for kids.
The funny thing about these traditions is that I can compare our children's approach to whatever fun is available this year compared to last year. For example, last year, Harper was very hesitant to play on structures that were taller than I am. This year, she stays away, then gets a little closer, then asks me to help her a bit, and then she's all about playing by herself. It's quite the process and I love how she builds up that bravery with a little help from Dad!
Willow's at that age where she'll pretty much do anything Riannah and Nolan does, thinking that just because she's smaller doesn't mean she can't do it. She just jumps right in, making sure Daddy is close-by to lend a hand if necessary. When Harper was that age, she was actually quite adventurous, but getting older made her cautious. She's starting to break down some of those self-imposed walls. In fact, when we came to Emma Krumbees when Harper was 2 (or was it 3?), she was the ONLY one to ride the ponies. Of course, Willow couldn't because she was still in Kristen's belly, but Riannah and Nolan refused, and they have yet to ever ride the ponies!
The funny thing about all of this is that it's memorable because it's part of our yearly family traditions. We go places all the time and I rarely remember the silly details like this because we don't make a big deal out of those trips and they don't really mean much (because they're not that special trip that we only make once a year). Even as an adult I find that these traditions are the memories that stick in my mind and offer a good reference from year to year as I watch our children get older. It also helps that we take pictures and can compare the pictures from year to year. For instance, last year there was 4 kids sitting on the wooden guy, this year there was 5!
I can't wait to do it again next year, especially with a 1-year old Isla!!
We have a few, fun traditions.
- Every Easter, we take a trip to Toys 'R' Us and raid their clearance Easter baskets to replenish our outdoor toy bins.
- Every Father's Day we go to Excelsior by Lake Minnetonka, visiting Licks for ice cream and then taking a walk to the beach (although the water is way too cold to swim in).
- Every second or third summer we take a trip to Florida, visiting Kristen's parents and spending a lot of relaxing time at the beach, playing in the Gulf.
- Every August we try to make it out to the Minnesota State Fair.
- Every September we go to Emma Krumbees to pick apples, take pictures, and let the kids play.
- Every October we go to Peter's Pumpkins to pick pumpkins, take pictures, go through the corn maze, and take the hay ride around the farm.
Today we decided to make our yearly trip to Emma Krumbees early. Unfortunately, we'll have to go back because they weren't picking Haralson apples yet; those aren't allowed until late September. For those who like apples, you'll know what I mean. We also decided to visit the festival they have there every September and October. This was the first time we've done that, and I'm glad we did. The kids really had a lot of fun, especially when they got to climb the giant pile of hay and ride on the little tractor-train thing for kids.
The funny thing about these traditions is that I can compare our children's approach to whatever fun is available this year compared to last year. For example, last year, Harper was very hesitant to play on structures that were taller than I am. This year, she stays away, then gets a little closer, then asks me to help her a bit, and then she's all about playing by herself. It's quite the process and I love how she builds up that bravery with a little help from Dad!
Willow's at that age where she'll pretty much do anything Riannah and Nolan does, thinking that just because she's smaller doesn't mean she can't do it. She just jumps right in, making sure Daddy is close-by to lend a hand if necessary. When Harper was that age, she was actually quite adventurous, but getting older made her cautious. She's starting to break down some of those self-imposed walls. In fact, when we came to Emma Krumbees when Harper was 2 (or was it 3?), she was the ONLY one to ride the ponies. Of course, Willow couldn't because she was still in Kristen's belly, but Riannah and Nolan refused, and they have yet to ever ride the ponies!
The funny thing about all of this is that it's memorable because it's part of our yearly family traditions. We go places all the time and I rarely remember the silly details like this because we don't make a big deal out of those trips and they don't really mean much (because they're not that special trip that we only make once a year). Even as an adult I find that these traditions are the memories that stick in my mind and offer a good reference from year to year as I watch our children get older. It also helps that we take pictures and can compare the pictures from year to year. For instance, last year there was 4 kids sitting on the wooden guy, this year there was 5!
I can't wait to do it again next year, especially with a 1-year old Isla!!
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Behavior At Home vs. Out and About
Sometimes our kids are absolute pests to each other... at home. Sometimes our kids frustrate the hell out of us... at home. Sometimes our kids just make us want to tear our hair out... at home. The only good thing about these moments is that they happen at home.
For some reason, when we pack our children into the van and go somewhere, our children turn into such well-behaved children that you'd swear they could rarely do anything wrong. In fact, our children can be so amazing while we're out and about that we've often have people come up to us and tell us our children act so well and they just can't believe how wonderful our family is. Wow, if they could only come to our house; then they'd be singing a different tune.
Kristen and I remind ourselves time and time again that as much as the kids fight when they're at home, we're so thankful that they don't do that while we're away from home. We don't end up with the child screaming at Target, throwing a temper-tantrum because he or she didn't get that new toy or candy bar. We don't have to deal with fighting at the restaurant that escalates to embarrassing time-outs. We have had, I think twice, where one of the kids had to be brought out of the store early, but that's extremely rare. We don't have the whiny, complaining kids anywhere... except at home.
We deal with these things at home just like pretty much every other parent out there. We just don't have to deal with them away from home... and I don't really know why. I can't say for sure if it's something we've done or if it's just our kids deciding that they'll put on this "I'm an angel" facade while we're away from home. Sometimes I think it's being surrounded by strangers that makes the kids not want to act out, but that's still me guessing as to why it happens.
Of course, I really don't care why they act so good while we're out, I'm just glad they do. In fact, Kristen and I even praise our children from time to time for their excellent behavior while we're out and about to remind them of how much we appreciate the restrain they show away from home.
This wonderful behavior has apparently been bestowed upon our little almost-1-month old Isla who has gone to the Minnesota State Fair, Mall of America, the Minnesota Zoo, and plenty of trips to Target without you really even realizing she's there. She sleeps soundly in the car seat and seems to enjoy being pushed around in the stroller while in the car seat. It might help that she has a really nice car seat and stroller, but maybe it's just that special out-and-about-behavior that the other kids have.
Of course, when we get into the minivan, all bets are off and the kids start acting like they do when we're at home. But open that door and exit the minivan, and it's angels and halos all around!
Well, mostly...
For some reason, when we pack our children into the van and go somewhere, our children turn into such well-behaved children that you'd swear they could rarely do anything wrong. In fact, our children can be so amazing while we're out and about that we've often have people come up to us and tell us our children act so well and they just can't believe how wonderful our family is. Wow, if they could only come to our house; then they'd be singing a different tune.
Kristen and I remind ourselves time and time again that as much as the kids fight when they're at home, we're so thankful that they don't do that while we're away from home. We don't end up with the child screaming at Target, throwing a temper-tantrum because he or she didn't get that new toy or candy bar. We don't have to deal with fighting at the restaurant that escalates to embarrassing time-outs. We have had, I think twice, where one of the kids had to be brought out of the store early, but that's extremely rare. We don't have the whiny, complaining kids anywhere... except at home.
We deal with these things at home just like pretty much every other parent out there. We just don't have to deal with them away from home... and I don't really know why. I can't say for sure if it's something we've done or if it's just our kids deciding that they'll put on this "I'm an angel" facade while we're away from home. Sometimes I think it's being surrounded by strangers that makes the kids not want to act out, but that's still me guessing as to why it happens.
Of course, I really don't care why they act so good while we're out, I'm just glad they do. In fact, Kristen and I even praise our children from time to time for their excellent behavior while we're out and about to remind them of how much we appreciate the restrain they show away from home.
This wonderful behavior has apparently been bestowed upon our little almost-1-month old Isla who has gone to the Minnesota State Fair, Mall of America, the Minnesota Zoo, and plenty of trips to Target without you really even realizing she's there. She sleeps soundly in the car seat and seems to enjoy being pushed around in the stroller while in the car seat. It might help that she has a really nice car seat and stroller, but maybe it's just that special out-and-about-behavior that the other kids have.
Of course, when we get into the minivan, all bets are off and the kids start acting like they do when we're at home. But open that door and exit the minivan, and it's angels and halos all around!
Well, mostly...
Thursday, September 4, 2014
From the Archives: Time
I'm too busy today to blog, so I'll copy this from the past...
I sit and collect my thoughts for another day
Thinking about how much life has changed
Time moves too fast and days go by too quickly
I wish I could get off this ride and just slow down for one week
But time is often just an interpretation
A minute is always a minute
A day is always a day
A months is always a month
But our mind perceives them in different ways
In the blink of an eye another day has gone by and we start all over again the next morning
Too bad we can’t start the previous day over and do it all over again
But you can’t change the past and you have to adjust for the future
No one else is going to stop their life just because yours has gotten away from you
But what about those that do make time to help others
What about those who disregard a time within their lives to help yours out
Time hasn’t stopped for them but part of them has stopped in time
I believe the term is friend
Sometimes a friend can change your fresh start for the next day
Whether it be a bit of good advice or a little helping hand
But the best friends are those that dedicate their ears to you when you need it the most
A time when you feel so distraught and just need someone to share your thoughts with
Of course listening is only part of friendship
When a response is necessary, that same friend will give it
So instead of trying to change the past, try changing the future
If you can’t do it alone, then look toward your friend for some free advice
And always remember, that same friend may come to you for the same reasons
So lend an ear and see if you can help their future
Life will continue to change but that doesn’t mean it has to be bad
Because a true friend will offer good advice to make those changes better
In the words of Linkin Park
“Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down ‘til the end of the day
The clock ticks life away”
April 13, 2003
I sit and collect my thoughts for another day
Thinking about how much life has changed
Time moves too fast and days go by too quickly
I wish I could get off this ride and just slow down for one week
But time is often just an interpretation
A minute is always a minute
A day is always a day
A months is always a month
But our mind perceives them in different ways
In the blink of an eye another day has gone by and we start all over again the next morning
Too bad we can’t start the previous day over and do it all over again
But you can’t change the past and you have to adjust for the future
No one else is going to stop their life just because yours has gotten away from you
But what about those that do make time to help others
What about those who disregard a time within their lives to help yours out
Time hasn’t stopped for them but part of them has stopped in time
I believe the term is friend
Sometimes a friend can change your fresh start for the next day
Whether it be a bit of good advice or a little helping hand
But the best friends are those that dedicate their ears to you when you need it the most
A time when you feel so distraught and just need someone to share your thoughts with
Of course listening is only part of friendship
When a response is necessary, that same friend will give it
So instead of trying to change the past, try changing the future
If you can’t do it alone, then look toward your friend for some free advice
And always remember, that same friend may come to you for the same reasons
So lend an ear and see if you can help their future
Life will continue to change but that doesn’t mean it has to be bad
Because a true friend will offer good advice to make those changes better
In the words of Linkin Park
“Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down ‘til the end of the day
The clock ticks life away”
April 13, 2003
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The First Days of Grade School
Today was the first day of school for our school district. It's funny to me when I look at how our children reacted to the first day of school in regards to what grade they're in. For Harper starting Kindergarten, the first day of school is intimidating, a bit scary, and really exciting! She came home with a new friend and talked about her first time doing school things. It appears to have worn her down quite a bit as dinner time was accompanied by some obvious signs of tiredness.
For Nolan starting 3rd grade, it's a pretty good change going from 2nd to 3rd grade in the amount of responsibilities he has, but he probably doesn't know that yet. He was able to experience this teacher that is new to him and possibly meet some other kids that he hasn't quite met yet. Maybe he has class with some old friends and maybe he'll make a couple new ones. All in all, it's not much different than before, but at the same time there are new experiences to have.
For Riannah starting 5th grade, it's really not much different. She either has her friends in her class or she doesn't. There isn't much chance of making new friends as by 5th grade, most of a child's friends are set unless someone moves into the area or the kids move into Junior or Senior High when they meet kids from other Elementary schools. School is school and learning simply advances past 4th grade with little changes other than difficulty. Her day probably feels exactly like they did last year and she gets that "it's school" look on her face. I can tell she enjoys being at school instead of home during the day as home was starting to get boring, but now it's time to learn.
For Christopher starting 12th grade, well, I'm sure he's just anxious to get it over with so he can move on to college and adulthood. Yay, adulthood! (:-p) Adulthood is overrated...
Needless to say, the first day of school went well and Harper is excited to go back tomorrow. Although they won't admit it, I'm sure Nolan and Riannah are too as their friends are at school since they don't live in our neighborhood. I wasn't really tickled pink when the kids fell back into their annoying each other habits as we drove to their special "first day of school" dinner, but what should I expect? They're still siblings and when school is over for the day, it's back to home to the same old thing.
Oddly enough, I don't remember any of my first days of Grade School. I don't remember my parents ever taking pictures and I don't ever remember the excitement of going back to school. This could be because my friends lived in the same neighborhood as I did, or it could be that I just don't remember it. I'm sure there was excitement in there somewhere...
It'll be interesting to see how each of our children reacts to the first day of school next year since I've now written a vague briefing on what their first day was like this year.
For Nolan starting 3rd grade, it's a pretty good change going from 2nd to 3rd grade in the amount of responsibilities he has, but he probably doesn't know that yet. He was able to experience this teacher that is new to him and possibly meet some other kids that he hasn't quite met yet. Maybe he has class with some old friends and maybe he'll make a couple new ones. All in all, it's not much different than before, but at the same time there are new experiences to have.
For Riannah starting 5th grade, it's really not much different. She either has her friends in her class or she doesn't. There isn't much chance of making new friends as by 5th grade, most of a child's friends are set unless someone moves into the area or the kids move into Junior or Senior High when they meet kids from other Elementary schools. School is school and learning simply advances past 4th grade with little changes other than difficulty. Her day probably feels exactly like they did last year and she gets that "it's school" look on her face. I can tell she enjoys being at school instead of home during the day as home was starting to get boring, but now it's time to learn.
For Christopher starting 12th grade, well, I'm sure he's just anxious to get it over with so he can move on to college and adulthood. Yay, adulthood! (:-p) Adulthood is overrated...
Needless to say, the first day of school went well and Harper is excited to go back tomorrow. Although they won't admit it, I'm sure Nolan and Riannah are too as their friends are at school since they don't live in our neighborhood. I wasn't really tickled pink when the kids fell back into their annoying each other habits as we drove to their special "first day of school" dinner, but what should I expect? They're still siblings and when school is over for the day, it's back to home to the same old thing.
Oddly enough, I don't remember any of my first days of Grade School. I don't remember my parents ever taking pictures and I don't ever remember the excitement of going back to school. This could be because my friends lived in the same neighborhood as I did, or it could be that I just don't remember it. I'm sure there was excitement in there somewhere...
It'll be interesting to see how each of our children reacts to the first day of school next year since I've now written a vague briefing on what their first day was like this year.
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