Family Fun Walk (kind of)

Saturday we were ready! We had pre-registered for our school's Family Fun and Fitness 3 K walk, we had picked up our t-shirts and participant numbers. We were at the local University where the event was to take place. We had water bottles. It was a FANTASTICLY BEAUTIFUL DAY!!

Everything was in place for a great family activity! (Sorry, my slightly sarcastic giggling got in the way of my typing.) But do family activities ever go off without a hitch? Not generally in our home! Shortly into the walk our middle son decided that he wanted the Big Guy Lowe to carry him in his arms--he wouldn't take a ride on shoulders, he wouldn't walk, nor would he ride in our plush multi-activity-trailer/stroller. So our middle son decided to go on strike--and he wasn't going to do it quietly. He let the entire participating population in the Family Fun and Fitness walk know that he wasn't happy and that he wasn't going to move one inch!

After letting MANY people pass, the Big Guy Lowe saved the day! He suggested that we leave the course and head for the sidewalk fountain that he had observed earlier. Everybody loves water on a hot day!

Okay, almost everybody loves water on a hot day other than when they are a year old and unexpectedly get doused with cold water! Good thing the Big Guy Lowe can give out the love too!


So maybe we didn't cross the finish line in slow motion or rip our numbers off at the end of the walk to be qualified for the door prizes, but we still had a great Family Fun Day! Isn't that what it's all about?!

Life with boys...

This past weekend was a child's paradise! The weather was incredible, we were together as a family and we played with friends outside. Ahhhh, it just feels good.

Flying kites at the school. The wind was perfect!!


Then on to a new find--the "Newt Pond". We found more friends already there which added to our fun. This place earned it's name well as it is full of salamanders!

Our oldest is a master at catching whatever is on the agenda. Today was no exception!

Did I mention that while we call this a pond, the water is deceptively shallow with lots of silty mud. This is how I know! No comment on whether I did this on purpose or not. :)

Off to the creek to wash off, er, to have fun in moving water...

The day ended with a great walk back to our home and a promise to do it all again soon.


So we skipped a day, (Sunday) and then headed back with more friends! This time we knew what we were after and nothing was going to stop us!

Beware of other parents giving instruction to your children--as they might just listen!! Here our middle son obediently followed instructions after hearing a suggestion of putting it on his head! Thanks Evan!
We caught 17 salamanders before we headed to the creek. Have no fear though, no creatures were harmed in the filming of this event (gratefully!) as we are firm believers in "Catch and Release"! What a relief!

I just love these guys!!



After the creek we had our good friends Sue and Gary over for lunch and a game of softball (I was feeding our youngest so no pictures!!). So overall we had a wonderful time this weekend and tons more pictures of it all. Our boys were thrilled with all the water and creature activities which in turn thrilled the Big Guy Lowe and me. It's days like these that make you think that maybe, just maybe, you're doing some things right!

When is a safe not safe?

Some things really burn me up! I especially despise spending good money on things that fail--only after the warranty has expired. Case in point...our safe.

We researched safes and for the money felt we had purchased a good product. Everything seemed to be great and time passed. Then, last night, it refused to open. It showed that the combination was correct, but the locking mechanism refused to release. After many attempts to open, research online, and a discovery that the warranty had expired a while ago, the decision was made to open the safe by force. The company actually gave suggestions for accomplishing this--I guess we missed that bit of info when we were researching! Hmmmm.

So the Big Guy Lowe's morning project today has been conquering the safe. This is what I found just a few minutes ago.

Notice the power tool in hand and the cut around the safe?

I think this picture is probably more accurate as he was pretty happy to purposefully use one of his power tools to destroy something!

So for the time being an empty diaper box has taken the place of our comfort-inspiring safe. Who would've known that pampers could provided security in more ways than one?

Interesting way to start the weekend...I wonder what's next!

If you don't try, you won't know!

I like to think that I am a pretty aware and on-top-of-it mom. I'm involved in my kids lives and provide opportunities for them to grow and learn, most of the time at least.

Recently we were at a doctor appointment for our youngest when the doctor asked me if he was doing a few things. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights as I thought "I haven't ever given him the chance to do that!!" The incriminating activities asked about were as follows: eating with the help of utensils, holding and moving a crayon on paper, and lastly, drinking from an open cup.

After sheepishly admitting to the doctor of my gross neglect, I decided to see if our little guy could in fact do these activites. The following is what I found:

1. Eating with the help of utensils. Now in my behalf, I have often given him the plastic utensils to chew on and play with. Does that count? Oh well, this is what happened.





Showing that he was indeed able to maneuver the fork, he was pretty pleased to keep this up throughout lunch!


One down, two to go!

2. Next was the crayon trick. Again, in my behalf, a vision of crayons marking up walls was not very appealing to me, but I guess he can't get too far in a high chair. Here we go!

Our middle son was able to be a helpful big brother by showing his younger brother how to color (dark blue marks are compliments of mommy trying to demonstrate earlier).

A quick taste, just to make sure he wasn't missing another opportunity...

then down to work, or play, really. Front of paper is good,

let's try the back. More difficult to color. Hmmm

Final product, soft marks on paper considered a passing grade for this boy's freshman attempt!


Two down, one to go.

3. Drinking from an open cup. Here we go! Obviously eager for this activity.

Pretty sad little boy as I take the water away from him. What did you think? Who would give a cup of water to a one year old when there are sippy cups available! :)


So, two out of three is pretty good for this mom. Hmmmm, is it odd that I feel like this was a test for me rather than our cute little guy?! In my book we are both more accomplished than when we began!

Teaching the important things

Anyone who knows our family, knows that The Big Guy Lowe LOVES cars. Being the involved father that he is, he is doing his best to instill this love in each of our sons. Today I found him working in his office--working on our youngest!

What you can't see here is that The Big Guy Lowe is determining online how his current car would look with different front grills. These slight differences sometimes are all it takes to make a car perfect. Note the concentrated interest shared by both father and son.

Now The Big Guy Lowe is demonstrating how to shift at high speeds while the laptop is making the shifting sounds. Passion. Pure passion! Looks like our youngest was enjoying the intensity as well!

You just have to love time with daddy!

Starsky and Hutch in their early years?

Every undercover detective needs their equipment.

Cool shades. Shiny clip-on badge.

A firearm (bright yellow/orange color will fulfill requirements, obviously more training needed).

A plastic walkie-talkie to communicate with others.

Equipment found in an all-inclusive detective package from the dollar store.


We are in safe hands.

After school activities with Sue

I am a big believer in routines. As a mother I've reinforced this belief while at the same time recognizing that all routines will be foiled at one time or another. Rain is generally the culprit, but that's a given, considering where we have chosen to put roots down.

I digress, back to routines.

One routine that has become a favorite mid-day activity of ours is visiting our good friend Sue, her husband and their cat.


I'm glad that they like our visits, because I think it would be hard to break the boys of this routine. This is generally how it goes...

The little boys and I head to the bus stop to pick up their big brother from Kindergarten. As we walk to the bus stop, our 2 1/2 year old starts asking to go to Sue's house; our neighbor who lives across the street from us. I reassure him that we will stop by after we get his brother off the bus. He acquiesces and we continue. After being reunited with our 6 year old, we talk and walk until we get about a block away from our home.

Then the competition begins.

Our middle son starts running as he wants to get to Sue's house first. That doesn't last long as our oldest son is very competitive and has longer legs.

They turn the corner and keep running.

Sue has become so well acquainted with our family visits that she has the door ready and welcomes the boys in, leaving the door open for me as I am usually a bit behind them.

Once inside, the boys head over to their cat.

Sometimes we have to ask the boys to remember that the cat needs space to breathe too!

Sue has nicely reassured me that their cat would leave if he didn't like the attention. But sometimes I think I hear a sigh of relief as the boys begin to leave...
Then there is the excitement of "Mystery Days"; special days that Sue chooses to share fun things with the boys such as animal crackers, Hot Wheels cars, puzzles. One day she even gave them each a Sacagawea dollar. Our middle son was so excited about getting a "penny" that he has chosen to ask for them as often as he thinks of them--Sorry Sue! We're trying to teach them how to be polite!!

Thank you Sue for letting us be a part of your day and for being such a wonderful friend and neighbor! We love you and are so happy that we get to be your neighbor!!