Say a little prayer

When Madeline came home from school this afternoon I was down in the basement. She yelled down the stairs for me then bound down the stairs very excitedly. She said, "Lyila! I voted for Barak Obama! And he's in the lead but I think John McCain won!" I was impressed with the fluidity in which she pronounced the names. Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears and she looked very sad. I asked what was wrong and it took her a second to get her thoughts together. Finally, she was able to speak. Through tears she explained that she voted for Barak Obama and she didn't want John McCain to win and that he won at school and she is very upset about it. I told her she and I were going to go vote this afternoon and that we would have to wait until later tonight to find out who the real winner is. She said, "But Lyila, why are you going to vote? John McCain has already won." So I explained how many many more people still get to choose and we'll just have to wait and see who the new president will be. I told her to try to calm down and she said she couldn't because she really wants Barak Obama to win. I asked her why she likes him so much but she couldn't really pinpoint the source of her convictions.

She definitely does not lack passion.

All I can say is please God let Barak Obama win or I will have one very emotionally distraught kindergartner on my hands...

Zoolie Ghoulie

Dan and I celebrated Halloween a week or so early with the girls this year. Neither one of them were scheduled to be with us for Halloween so we took them to Zoolie Ghoulie, which is Springfield's version of Boo at the Zoo (for all you Topekans.) We had a great time trick-or-treating all the different stations in the zoo and seeing the few animals that were braving the tornado strength winds. Our pumpkin patch crew joined us for the festivities...Gail and Kevin brought Yoda (Gavin) and Suzi brought a little froggie named Sabine.

Madeline dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Reese was the good witch Glinda. I made their costumes and it had been quite some time since I had sewn anything at all. Not to mention that I was never that skilled at it anyway so this created a bit of a challenge for me. I just kept praying my genetics would kick in and I'd instinctively know what to do. Each little costume has it's quirks but I made them with my own two hands and I can guarantee they are each one-of-a-kind!! Can you tell I'm proud of myself? Well, I am and after seeing the girls in the finished product I did take a moment and give myself a pat on the back. They looked adorable...

Reese smiling pretty in her Glinda costume.


Madeline loved being Dorothy!! She was especially excited about the red glitter shoes.


Dreaming of a faraway place...


Holding on for dear life? Boy was it windy!!


Yoda!!!


Yoda and his human parents Gail and Kevin.


Little froggie Sabine!!


This is one motley crew. I'm sure I've called them that before and it surely won't be the last time. I wish photos didn't take so long to load because this picture is only one in a series of about 10 hilarious pictures. Sabine doesn't like to be restricted/constricted; Madeline is trying her best to hold onto the slippery little amphibian; Reese has lost her crown but replaced it as only a one year-old could; Gavin refused to turn around and be part of all the commotion the girls were creating. There was lots of prodding but he refused to budge. This may actually be the best decision of his entire life ;-)


Sabine is funny. She dropped her toy and instead of going under the fence to get it she decided she would hang over the rail and kick at it. It must have seemed like a really good plan because Reese decided she would help. Suzi finally put an end to the futility and retrieved it for Sabine.

Last funny tidbit from the day...

As we're all going our separate ways, Suzi sends me a text message and comments on how windy it was and asked "where did that wind come from?" I told her I thought Dorothy brought it with her (meaning Madeline.) So Suzi says," Can she dress as Jimmy Buffet next year?" Sounds good to me!! Although when I told Madeline what Suzi said her response was an emphatic "NO! No way am I dressing like a boy!!!"

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

It has indeed been several weeks since I've posted anything...but not for a lack of things to talk about. We've been busy.

The first weekend in October, Dan and I took a little trip to Kansas. It had been a few months since I'd been back, and nearly a year since Dan had last made the trip. Dan and I took Luke and Nathaniel to Manhattan (Kansas, that is) for a little jaunt to Pillsbury Crossing and then we drove the "Scenic Byway" through the Flint Hills. I've got to say that this "scenic byway" really does look more interesting on the website. But nonetheless, it gave an accurate depiction of what Kansas is really about :-) Those of you FROM Kansas know exactly what I mean...




Dan and Luke climbed some pretty amazing rocks. I know I've become much more maternal in my old(er) age because all I could think of while watching these two daredevils climb was what I would do if someone fell. Thoughts such as these really do take the fun out of the moment...




Getting to this perfect photographic spot in front of the waterfall was a bit of a challenge. But the end result was worth it.




Lyila, Luke and Nathaniel. I can understand why swimming and frolicking in the water has commenced for the season...it was brisk!!



The boys at a lookout on the Scenic Byway. They didn't plan the tough-guy looks...I think it just happens naturally when a couple of guys get together for some pictures;-)


Luke is quite the skateboarder. He carries his board with him everywhere we go with hopes of finding a new jump,a new place to drop in, a new place to grind, etc. (I'll stop there with the skateboarding lingo...I can't remember anymore phrases anyway.) This first picture is on the stairs outside David Bridal. The other pictures are at a skate park in Council Grove, Kansas. We were passing through and eagle-eye Luke spotted it from the main road. We HAD to stop and let him try it out...we would have never heard the end of it otherwise. And we still had a looong drive ahead of us that day.

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing...especially when you're eating apples!

Yesterday, Dan, Madeline, Reese and I took a little drive to Carlinville to visit the apple orchard/pumpkin patch. We were lucky enough to have some good friends (Suzi, Sabine, Gail, Kevin and Gavin) join us for an exciting day.

Dan and the girls of the day...Sabine, Reese and Madeline



Reese was lovin' the apple cider slush


The first apple of many for Sabine...



Reese picked her own apple...


...then surveyed the fruits of her labor.



Suzi and Sabine posing in the apple orchard.



Madeline and Dan were aiming high for just the right apples.



Reese not only loved the slush, she loved the apples!



Gavin catching a ride through the orchard from his pops.



Sabine taking a much needed break in the shade.



Gavin looking cute...

Is he trying to steal our apples??



Dan helped Reese find a perfect apple up high.



Dan and his girls...



Sabine had a costume change midway through the show...she's a very stylish girl. Can't have too many pics in one outfit!!


Madeline and Dan in search of the best pumpkins in the patch.


Is this the Great Pumpkin?



Pumpkins are good for so many things!


Madeline searched high and low for this beauty...


The prettiest pumpkin of them all


Finally, a photo with Sabine looking AT the camera. Granted, I had to get under her to catch this priceless shot.

We'll check back next year to see how much they've grown...



...and to see if Sabine can stand still for a photo by that time ;-)

Pretzel Parade!!

Madeline and I went downtown last Friday evening to experience our first Pretzel Homecoming parade. We had no idea they were gong to throw out as much candy as they did (I use the word "throw" loosely as the junior high boys were pelting the candy at people as they rode along.) The parade had a little of everything...a man on a funny bike, a flag, football players on a fire truck and of course, young fans waving to the entertainment...

Untitled ramblings

A couple of funny things have happened recently that I really have to pass on...

• As we're floating down the Meramec river, Madeline started talking about random stuff. Suddenly she said, "so what don't you like about me?" I have no idea why she asked this question or where it came from because no one else was talking at the time. Just about the time she said that, Dan notices an oddly placed sign by the river advertising karate lessons. So he said "Karate, hmm." Madeline's reply? "My body? My body? What's wrong with my body?" I couldn't stop laughing. She thought he was answering her question but she obviously misunderstood what he was saying. Dan said, "what is she talking about?" Between bouts of laughter I told him that he unknowingly just gave his 5 year-old daughter a complex. We then, of course, explained to her that absolutely nothing was wrong with her body and that she misunderstood her dad. Oh my...

• The other night I was making a grocery list for the following day. Madeline was at the table coloring so I asked her if there was anything from the store she wanted...anything she was wishing for that we didn't already have. She gave the question some serious thought and answered... "brownies." Brownies? Well, I can do that! So yesterday I bought some brownie mix and prepared the treat. I had pulled it from the oven about 5 minutes before she came home from school. She sniffed the air and looked to the stove. "You made me brownies? I thought you were just going to buy some! You're the best ever!!!" I thought to myself "yeah, remember that when you're 16!!"

• Last night for dinner I decided to make something that I was sure Madeline hadn't had before. She asked what I was making and I explained that it was something new and that I wanted her to be very brave when she tried it. Usually she's very good about trying new things but sometimes she's just not in the mood. I described what it was and then lifted the lid to show her. She looked into the skillet, looked at me very seriously, and very quietly said, "I'll be very brave." Then she came over to me and wrapped her arms around me like it was going to be her last meal ever. Gosh, did it look that bad? As it turns out, she was very brave and did like the dish. But I don't think it makes the short list of her all-time favorites. But that's okay by me...I was just proud of her for giving it an honest effort.
  

We labored on Labor Day

Yes, we did. I never knew six miles down the Meramec River by canoe could seem so long.

We were early risers on Labor Day, leaving the house around 6:30 am for a three hour drive to Missouri. Dan took us on a unplanned tour through St. Louis and he was worried we'd miss our bus to the drop in point for canoeing. But bus driver Santa One-Feather was there waiting... so, no worries.

Truthfully, we had a great time and we didn't get completely worn out until about the last mile and a half. By then we had gotten a little frustrated at my lack of steering capabilities (we laughed at first) and my arms were worn out. The seat I was on was broken so I sat crooked for most of the trip...except for the SHORT time I was in charge of steering...that was the funniest part. (I'm sure Dan remembers it differently.) I couldn't stop laughing at how aggravated he was becoming and then I wasn't paying attention and we went in more circles. He was great though. Aside from the short moments of wanting to throw me into the river he was actually quite patient with me (thanks, babe.) I guess that short canoeing lesson I received at Girl Scout camp in the 80's didn't stick with me. Long live Camp Daisy Hindman!! Madeline had the difficult task of sitting still in the middle of the canoe (so as to not tip us over) with not really much to do for 2 1/2 hours. But she did wonderfully. She loved taking breaks and getting out into the river, inspecting the rocks and trying to catch minnows by hand. She begged and begged to help row so I handed over my oar. She gave it an honest effort and decided it LOOKED like more fun than it really was.

After our bus ride to our drop in point and our subsequent canoeing expedition, we changed out of our wet clothes (that's a funny story, too) and parked in the shade for a nice picnic lunch. It's been a while since I've been that hungry! After lunch we took a guided tour of the Meramec caves. Very cool.

Madeline was so tired from getting up and leaving the house before the sun came up that I think she was sawing logs before we even hit the highway for the return trip. Our trip home was a little elongated due to multiple bathroom breaks and food stops but we finally made it home. What a great day!



Dan and Madeline on the bus...





Madeline trying her hand at rowing...




View from a canoe...




Dan is still smiling so this is before I took over as the steer-er...




Madeline was fascinated by the rocks. Dan kept saying, "Madeline, play in the water. You can play with rocks at home!"




This seating arrangement didn't last long but it was worth a shot.




The deepest part of the river was only 4 or 5 feet. Madeline was a little nervous to go too far without Dan by her side.




This one cracks me up. Dan looks like he's spanking her with the paddle but he's actually pointing out all the minnows swimming around their feet.




Starting to wear down a bit but still having fun...




Dan found Madeline some rocks and shells. I wonder what happened to those. We'll probably find them in the bottom of the washing machine.




When we parked for lunch we left our signature...






At the beginning of the cave tour...




I'd tell you what these are called but I didn't take notes and I've never been great at remembering things scientific.




But they were beautiful nonetheless.




I do remember that this is the wine room. It's named that because the formations look like clusters of grapes.




Posing pretty in front of a rock formation.




A light show...




Dan and Madeline at the end of the tour...




All three of us, still standing, after one very busy and exciting day.