Light em' if ya got em'!

Let me start off by saying I hope that everyone had a relaxing and safe Fourth of July!!

I had to work on Friday morning so Dustin was alone with the kids until noon. Apparently, the kids were in the mood to create some excitement because two of our children (who shall remain nameless) decided to dial 9-1-1. At first Josh swore that he didn't do it but it didn't take long to figure out that his original statement was merely a case of "technicality". He dialed the 9...and pointed to show Lauren what to push after that.

Dustin called and said the kids had just gotten him in trouble. I asked what happened and after he told me what happened, what the dispatcher said to him when she called back and, finally, what he said to our kids after the entire ordeal, I told him that I find it hysterical that the children never seem to do these outrageous things while I'm home alone with them (which is 99.9% of the time). He told me to "buzz off" in his most loving of tones and that was that.

I met him and the kids for lunch and we had a nice long discussion about the proper uses for 9-1-1. Is there blood? Okay. Is someone not breathing? Okay. Is there fire? Okay. Is there a stranger in the house? Okay. Is there nothing else to do and you want to get your younger sister in trouble? NOT Okay.

I think we got the point across. If not...next time they'll NEED 9-1-1.

Lauren is learning new words every day and a new one last week was "fart". Oh boy...the giggles a two year old will get when she screams "fart". Entire restaurants will laugh and older brothers think it's hy-ster-i-cal!

(It is also important, for purposes of this story only, to know that when she has gone #2 she calls it an "ewww-ie".)

So while we're eating lunch on Friday I hear Lauren fart. I say, "Lauren? Did you fart?"

She sniffs (which is hysterical in and of itself), puts her finger under her nose and says, "Ewwww. Daddy ewww-ied!"

OMG! We died laughing. Even a two year old has figured out who to blame if she accidentally passes gas. What a toot...I mean, hoot! ;-)

After lunch we went and got our library cards. Josh was so excited and I am so glad he enjoys reading. Last night he read, "Mommy, I love you", to us. He kept telling me that he didn't know where the Marion Public Library was but that it was blue and had wood. When I pulled up he said, "Mom!! This is the Marion Public Library!" Too cute! I love how it's not just a library...it's the MARION PUBLIC Library!

Friday night we went over to Larry and Toni's to play with Reagan (and of course visit with Gretchen and Adam, too). Josh got to read to Ella and show Reagan a little magic with a Rubix Cube.





Saturday morning we decided to brave the rain and drizzle and take the kids downtown for the Kid's Parade and Farmer's Market. It was wet, but fun.





I work downtown every day but to see the flag lined streets, the courthouse and the rest of the island close up impressed the kids and even me!






The coolest thing we got to do was have a gentleman make balloons for the kids. The two men were very talented and every child in line patiently waited and watched in awe as these men made amazing pieces of art!







Josh was amazed by what these men could create. As he was watching the gentleman make Lauren a butterfly he blurted out, "Wow...it's magic." The gentleman looked at Josh and said, "Thank you, my friend."

Afterwards, I told Josh that he gave the gentleman such a wonderful compliment with his comment. I explained to him that the gentleman genuinely appreciated it - hoping to use that exchange as a little lesson in the power of words. I told him that I was certain he made the gentleman's day. He said, "You think, mommy? He sure made mine!" At that moment I looked over at Lauren and she was kissing her butterfly over and over and over again and I began to cry.

I'm not sure why.

Maybe it was because there is no greater joy in my life than to see my own children filled with such pure joy. Maybe it was because I saw them look at their little "balloon creations" with the same adoring amazement I have when I look at them. It was one of those moments as a parent when the love for your child is so powerful that it is physically painful. They were tears of joy, I guess. And right there under the umbrella of an old oak tree I had a moment in my life that I will never forget.

By the time we got back to the van we were all soaked and the kids were wiped. Lauren made it about four blocks and she was out...mid-Tootsie roll.



Saturday afternoon was filled with naps and me hanging the newest photos of our children. Of course I ended up spending more than I had originally intended. But, I guess that is one of the down sides of having beautiful children. ;-)





Dustin and I decided that instead of sitting in hours of traffic while waiting to exit the fireworks with the rest of Cedar Rapids, we would light the rest of the fireworks Dad gave us in the comforts of our own backyard. And even though they were pretty much only glorified sparkers, they were pretty and sparkly...and that's all that mattered.

The display was prefaced with a round of smores (and plain chocolate for Lauren) and we all patiently waited for them to begin.



Well...most of us.







At the end Josh says, "DAD! That wasn't much of a grand finale!" Every group's got a critic.

Sunday morning we got up and went to church and then out to breakfast. After a weekend of playing the inevitable pile of household chores awaited our return. After dragging our feet for most of the morning we headed home. For some reason Dustin thought it would be a good idea to complete the installation of the birthday gift from my father: a kitchen faucet. By my own father's admission this gift was really more for him (when he's here visiting) than it was for me.

Our old faucet lacked a spray nozzle. It also took NASA-like precision to shut off completely. Aside from the obvious technical problems, it was also not very pretty.

After living in our house for more than five years (and after many, many, many home improvement projects), Dustin and I always get the same nasty feeling in our stomach right before starting an improvement project. You know that feeling you get when you realize you're in too deep and it's too late to turn back because you've jumped in with both feet. Yeah, that feeling.

But that's not all. By mid-project we each have splitting headaches and hyper-sensitive levels of agitation, as if we were nursing a hangover from an all-night binge drinking session. Except in our case, all the fun had during the all-night binge drinking is replaced with Dora the Explorer on repeat and Fruit Punch Kool-Aid.

This project was like all the others: took twice as long, children aggravated already thin nerves and worth it in the end.

Four hours later, two trips to the hardware store and several cuss words directed to the builders of our house, we had a new faucet...and no leaks.



Isn't she beautiful?

As Dustin and I prepare our wish list of items in our new house we have added yet another item: water shut-off valves at each water source.

Aren't we picky?