Be Home

plastic bricks

You really don't have to be reading this blog very long to understand how very much this family is into Lego. Call us a one hit wonder, but my guys find them all together fascinating with no end in sight. I'm quite sure that I would have never let my 3 year old first born come even close to the tiny pieces that adorn my total square feet. But George would be uncharacteristically quarantined to keep that under 3 rule up in this household. As it were, the love of these tiny plastic brick pieces runs deep and wide through all of us.

Sunday evening, just as we were finishing up our student service, a bright blue bin graced the foyer held by one of our young men of the church. A whole batch of formally loved Legos to be passed on to the hands of my overly excited and deeply grateful boys.

Needless to say, the priority come Monday morning was to wash, soak, dry, and divvy up those beloved fresh spoils. For myself, I could ask for no greater a common bond between them. I have seen sibling peace, love, sharing, trading, role play, creativity, and all out genius arise from this one toy. The day that I won't be stepping on a Lego plastic brick is the day I know that my boys are gone and I'm none to anxious for that day to come.

lollipops

There aren't many things better in the world of a child than a lollipop. Even Shirley Temple know that here good ship wasn't complete without the commandeering of such an item. This weekend we took the kids to the Louisburg Cider Mill Festival. It was so much fun for all of us, despite the unexpected heat in September. It was much to hot to think about picking out a pumpkin in their pumpkin patch or wined our way through the corn maze. But the lollipops were irresistible. These were not your little bank teller suckers on a stick, these were an amazing array of color and taste bringing total delight to its owner.

We also enjoyed the sounds of the bluegrass band while sitting amongst the hay bails. And everyone was enthralled with the workings of the cider mill itself. It was the equivalent of a real life Dirty Jobs show complete with oooohs, ahhhhs, and yucks. Of course, for George the best was to have another chance at riding a pony. While I had the pleasure of holding his, and all the boys, sticky, beautiful, lollipops!

a touch of wall art

Andrew and I had a chance to go out on a date night last night, with many thanks to Miss Elizabeth. We had a wonderfully romantic time of dining and conversation at Pei Wei. Followed by browsing around Dean & Deluca along with many other young couples I observed. We found ourselves chatting with the salesman at the new Leawood Mac Store. Then of course we made our way to the only place that if you aren't in for bar hopping is open after 9 - Barnes & Noble. To which having a few extra frivolous spending money left from my birthday I came home with two new books. (Ignoring the fact that I just started 3 other ones last week, O well)

One of those books was called The Family at Home. And today it proved to be worth its means. Through its inspiration I added art to our walls. Not anything of spectacular presence. But something of OUR presence. Nicholas' drawings were hung as a piece of wall art above his bed. To which a room was transformed in to "his space". When Nicholas was younger, much younger, 2 maybe, I bought alphabet cards to put up in his room. Today George was all excited to receive them up0on his walls as a token of art. Both rooms instantly felt much more cosy. But better than that they felt like the children that inhabit them. In other words - The Family at Home.

first day of school

The real first day of school was a month ago but the picks of our first day are worth sharing. We have taken the shot with the flag a few years now. I wanted something to measure their height by. Unfortunately we got a new flag pole two years back so it is a relative cause.

NICHOLAS - 4TH GRADE

PETER - 1ST GRADE

GEORGE - 3!

SCHOOL YEAR 2008-2009

Last year...