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Saturday, August 18, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
a letter to God
Flora: Mommy, can I have some paper? I want to write a note to God.
Me: Okay, what are you going to tell God?
Flora: Oh, you know, just some holy stuff.
Me: Some holy stuff??
Flora: Yeah, like this:
Dear God,
Thank you for this world. I love this world. And please make all the boys stop being too loud and crazy. And make all the people who can't see be able to see. And please make all the kids never get sick again.
Love, Flora
Me: Okay, what are you going to tell God?
Flora: Oh, you know, just some holy stuff.
Me: Some holy stuff??
Flora: Yeah, like this:
Dear God,
Thank you for this world. I love this world. And please make all the boys stop being too loud and crazy. And make all the people who can't see be able to see. And please make all the kids never get sick again.
Love, Flora
she's much better at this than i was
One more post about Flora starting preschool and then I'll probably have it out of my system. Maybe. Who knows what preschool adventures await us? I could be writing on this topic for a loooong time.
So today was Flora's second day of preschool. I've heard that the second day is often harder than the first so I wasn't sure what to expect from her. Also, yesterday she spent the first half of the day stating emphatically that she did NOT want to return to school (despite her glowing reports after her first day). But the first thing she said to me this morning was "Don't forget to put the meat in my lunchbox." That led me to believe that she was planning to go to school today. A good sign.
She ate her breakfast, watched some My Little Pony, and got dressed for school -- asking "When is it time to go to school?" about every five minutes. Another good sign. I basically just kept my mouth shut and let her lead all the school conversations. I didn't want to say the wrong thing.
At 9:20 we all piled into the van and made the 1 minute commute to her preschool. Have I mentioned that the preschool is SUPER close to our house?? I love that. We could walk if we needed to but we'd have to go a couple blocks down to a crosswalk since there's a busy 4-lane street separating us from the school. But if we HAD to we could do it. It would just take a lot longer than 1 minute.
She hopped out of the van and informed me that she was going to go sit by the church doors and wait for me and the boys. Um, okay.... Scout and Timber and I met her at the doors and we all walked inside. She led the way to her room and gave her teacher a huge grin before hanging up her backpack and walking into the classroom. I said goodbye and gave her a kiss and the boys and I headed out the door. (They were incredibly cute, by the way! I had asked Scout to hold Timber's hand in the parking lot and they continued to hold hands the whole time we were in the preschool building.)
And that was it! Smiles.....no tears......no sad faces or pleas to come home with us. Awesome! I can totally handle this!
Many of you have heard about (or experienced!) my rocky start to school. I think this is why I was so apprehensive about Flora starting school. Here's a brief summary of what I put my parents through:
But you can see why I am nervous about Flora starting school. I'm not sure how I could handle a huge emotional meltdown of hers while trying to keep Scout and Timber from leaving the building or eating other people's lunches or ransacking the director's office. I am praying that her preschool days will continue to go as smoothly as these first two have.
Flora's favorite part of preschool: Skittles. Oh, and fruit snacks.
Flora's least favorite part of preschool: Naptime.
She ate her breakfast, watched some My Little Pony, and got dressed for school -- asking "When is it time to go to school?" about every five minutes. Another good sign. I basically just kept my mouth shut and let her lead all the school conversations. I didn't want to say the wrong thing. At 9:20 we all piled into the van and made the 1 minute commute to her preschool. Have I mentioned that the preschool is SUPER close to our house?? I love that. We could walk if we needed to but we'd have to go a couple blocks down to a crosswalk since there's a busy 4-lane street separating us from the school. But if we HAD to we could do it. It would just take a lot longer than 1 minute.
She hopped out of the van and informed me that she was going to go sit by the church doors and wait for me and the boys. Um, okay.... Scout and Timber and I met her at the doors and we all walked inside. She led the way to her room and gave her teacher a huge grin before hanging up her backpack and walking into the classroom. I said goodbye and gave her a kiss and the boys and I headed out the door. (They were incredibly cute, by the way! I had asked Scout to hold Timber's hand in the parking lot and they continued to hold hands the whole time we were in the preschool building.) And that was it! Smiles.....no tears......no sad faces or pleas to come home with us. Awesome! I can totally handle this!
Many of you have heard about (or experienced!) my rocky start to school. I think this is why I was so apprehensive about Flora starting school. Here's a brief summary of what I put my parents through:- My birthday was on the cutoff day so my parents were given the choice to send me to Kindergarten or wait until the next year. They chose to send me. Bad choice.
- I cried when my mom dropped me off at school. Every day. For a couple months.
- The teacher suggested I leave Kindergarten and start again the following year. Yes, I am a Kindergarten drop out. She comforted my parents with the fact that I was definitely ready for Kindergarten intellectually, but not socially/emotionally ready yet. I'm sure that was a great comfort to them. "Yeah, your daughter is smart but she's socially awkward." I wonder what kind of future my parents saw for me at that point.....??
- Started Kindergarten the following year. Cried. Hid behind a trash can on the first day and refused to come out. Hated school. Rolled my eyes every time we were forced to "do the hokey pokey." Yes, I was THAT kid.
- Cried on the first day of school all the way up to fifth grade. I didn't cry on the first day of fifth grade but I definitely got teary-eyed. The scent of freshly sharpened pencils still puts a knot in my belly to this day.
- Was prone to crying fits whenever anything new or unexpected presented itself throughout elementary school. Substitute teacher? Cry. Boy chased me at recess? Cry. Lose a tooth at school? Cry.
- Went to the nurses office often with stomach aches. Why couldn't she just send me home??? I was obviously very very sick.
- Did not talk to boys AT ALL until junior high. Denied the very existence of boys to my parents. It's true. I actually told them there weren't any boys in my Kindergarten class. And I have no idea why. I had good relationships with my dad and all the other men I knew. I didn't have a problem talking to my boy cousins. Just the boys at school. (any Big Bang Theory fans??? Think Raj.) Again, I can only imagine what kind of future my parents saw for me!!
But you can see why I am nervous about Flora starting school. I'm not sure how I could handle a huge emotional meltdown of hers while trying to keep Scout and Timber from leaving the building or eating other people's lunches or ransacking the director's office. I am praying that her preschool days will continue to go as smoothly as these first two have.
Flora's favorite part of preschool: Skittles. Oh, and fruit snacks.
Flora's least favorite part of preschool: Naptime.
a good brother
Scout's spontaneous prayer this morning:
"Dear Jesus, thank you for Flora to have a good day at school today. Thank you for me to be a good brother. Thank you for making us better and giving us good food to eat and for a good day. Jesus, you're the best! Amen."
I don't know what prompted him to start praying. I said, "I need to go get ready" and he squinted his eyes shut and clasped his hands and started praying. He was really cute on Tuesday while Flora was at her first day of school. Throughout the day he would spontaneously say, "I think Flora is having fun at her new school" or "I think Flora will like her new school." He was obviously thinking of her. Yesterday they pushed their two twin beds together and declared that they would be sleeping like that from now on. Such cute little friends!
"Dear Jesus, thank you for Flora to have a good day at school today. Thank you for me to be a good brother. Thank you for making us better and giving us good food to eat and for a good day. Jesus, you're the best! Amen."
I don't know what prompted him to start praying. I said, "I need to go get ready" and he squinted his eyes shut and clasped his hands and started praying. He was really cute on Tuesday while Flora was at her first day of school. Throughout the day he would spontaneously say, "I think Flora is having fun at her new school" or "I think Flora will like her new school." He was obviously thinking of her. Yesterday they pushed their two twin beds together and declared that they would be sleeping like that from now on. Such cute little friends!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
things to remember
The kids used to devour any fruits I put on their plates but lately they haven't been eating fruit very well. Last night I tried a new approach. Instead of making each child a plate I gave them each their individual bowls of lasagna but a made communal fruit and veggie plate to put in the middle of the table. Will it work?? Will it??
It worked!! They thought it was fun to share the plate and there was even some competition over who got the last strawberry. In fact, Timber just saw the picture of the fruit plate on my computer and started asking for more. Yay!
Give a kid a map and send them to Pony Land! Haha, the kids were talking about maps so I gave them each a map page out of an old atlas and sent them outside. They studied their maps and slowly made their way to "Pony Land." It was so funny eavesdropping on their map pretend play!
Give a kid a map and send them to Pony Land! Haha, the kids were talking about maps so I gave them each a map page out of an old atlas and sent them outside. They studied their maps and slowly made their way to "Pony Land." It was so funny eavesdropping on their map pretend play!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
flora's first day of preschool
Thank you to everyone who said a prayer for us today. Flora had a great day at school, the boys played together SO well all day, Timber napped in his toddler bed for the first time, and I even took a little nap while he was sleeping and Scout was busy playing on the Kindle. Oh, and the boys did not ask to watch tv at all while Flora was gone. I guess I know who the tv instigator is now!!
Monday, August 13, 2012
my olympic journey
The Olympics are over. And I have a few things to get off my chest. Bear with me in this melancholy post and I'll try to post a fun "Flora Goes to Preschool" blog tomorrow.
This was a very emotional Olympics for me. I think this is the first time I've watched the Olympics and actually "got it." These athletes pour everything into their sport for four years and it all comes down to a hundredth of a second or a fraction of an inch. The victories were just as tear-jerking as the defeats.
It was also an emotional Olympics because I realized that I will never be the best in the world at anything. I won't be a world champion. Ever. I like to be the best. It's frustrating to know that I'll never be the best. Doesn't that sound vain and just awful? It's true though. How amazing for those athletes to be deemed the BEST in the WORLD!? The FASTEST in the WORLD? Wow. It's going to take me a while to be okay with never being the best. And you can't placate me by offering extremely specific scenarios. Yes, I am the BEST mom to Flora, Scout, and Timber . . . but I'm also the WORST mom to Flora, Scout, and Timber. I may be the BEST Stefanie Janelle Borkert in the world, but I'm also the WORST Stefanie Janelle Borkert. No worries though. I'm not slipping into a depression over it or anything. It's probably part of getting older -- realizing there are some things that you will never do and learning to be okay with that.
Wow, so that was upbeat. Maybe we should tone things down some.... *sarcasm*
The Olympics always make me reflect on where I've been in my life during previous Olympic games (and by "Olympics" I mean the Summer Olympics -- the Winter games don't really count in my book).
So here's my Olympic journey:
1996 -- The Olympics probably happened but I was a teenager. Since they didn't directly affect me I'm sure I paid them no mind. Plus there was no internet and NBC was probably one of the channels that we didn't get on our tv. I think we got a total of 3 channels. I have no memory of any Olympic games prior to 1996 either (although Bob Costas has done a good job of filling me in on the details over the years).
2000 -- The 2000 Olympics kicked off in September of my Freshmen year of college. Such a big transitional year for me! And such fun! I remember watching the Olympics between classes. My roommate and I were keeping a medal count on our wall. Good times!
2004 -- The Olympics welcomed us to our new home in Kansas City. I'll always remember being in a new city, a new state, a new apartment watching the Olympics. It was a very nice distraction during a very chaotic time. And I was married this time so Chris and I were able to share our first Olympics together. I'm glad he's a fan. We kept each other up-to-date on the medal counts.
2008 -- What a difference four years makes! I watched part of the 2008 Olympics in a hotel in Branson, MO (we had met my parents and Shane to go to Silver Dollar City! Yay!). Flora was about 9 months old and I was about five months pregnant with Scout and working full-time. Probably the most exhausting year of my life. I remember thinking that Flora would be 4-years-old the next time the Olympics were played and the baby-in-my-belly would be 3-years-old. It seemed SOOOO far away. Almost impossible.
2012 -- Another transitional time for us. New people, new things, new places. Saying goodbye to the baby phase and hello to three silly kids who try to imitate every Olympic event they see. Flora's new goal in life is to be in the Olympics because she's good at "gymnastic-ing." As the Olympics end I prepare to send my oldest baby off to preschool. It's just two days a week, but I know it's the first little nudge of the long process of pushing her out of the nest. Preschool today, college tomorrow. I won't think about that when I drop her off tomorrow though.
2016 -- Life will be SO different. Flora will be 8-yrs-old, Scout will be 7-yrs-old, and Timber will be 5-yrs-old (but getting very close to being 9, 8, and 6-yrs). I'll be sending Timber off to Kindergarten just as the 2016 Olympics draw to a close. I can't even image how weird that will be.
I assume time flies for the aspiring Olympic athletes just as fast as it flies for me. One day you're hoping to make the team and the next you're standing on the podium trying to soak in the moment. And yet it probably seems to drag on endlessly during grueling training sessions in those in-between years.
The longest days, the shortest years . . .2016 will be here before we know it.
This was a very emotional Olympics for me. I think this is the first time I've watched the Olympics and actually "got it." These athletes pour everything into their sport for four years and it all comes down to a hundredth of a second or a fraction of an inch. The victories were just as tear-jerking as the defeats.
It was also an emotional Olympics because I realized that I will never be the best in the world at anything. I won't be a world champion. Ever. I like to be the best. It's frustrating to know that I'll never be the best. Doesn't that sound vain and just awful? It's true though. How amazing for those athletes to be deemed the BEST in the WORLD!? The FASTEST in the WORLD? Wow. It's going to take me a while to be okay with never being the best. And you can't placate me by offering extremely specific scenarios. Yes, I am the BEST mom to Flora, Scout, and Timber . . . but I'm also the WORST mom to Flora, Scout, and Timber. I may be the BEST Stefanie Janelle Borkert in the world, but I'm also the WORST Stefanie Janelle Borkert. No worries though. I'm not slipping into a depression over it or anything. It's probably part of getting older -- realizing there are some things that you will never do and learning to be okay with that.
Wow, so that was upbeat. Maybe we should tone things down some.... *sarcasm*
The Olympics always make me reflect on where I've been in my life during previous Olympic games (and by "Olympics" I mean the Summer Olympics -- the Winter games don't really count in my book).
So here's my Olympic journey:
1996 -- The Olympics probably happened but I was a teenager. Since they didn't directly affect me I'm sure I paid them no mind. Plus there was no internet and NBC was probably one of the channels that we didn't get on our tv. I think we got a total of 3 channels. I have no memory of any Olympic games prior to 1996 either (although Bob Costas has done a good job of filling me in on the details over the years).
2000 -- The 2000 Olympics kicked off in September of my Freshmen year of college. Such a big transitional year for me! And such fun! I remember watching the Olympics between classes. My roommate and I were keeping a medal count on our wall. Good times!
2004 -- The Olympics welcomed us to our new home in Kansas City. I'll always remember being in a new city, a new state, a new apartment watching the Olympics. It was a very nice distraction during a very chaotic time. And I was married this time so Chris and I were able to share our first Olympics together. I'm glad he's a fan. We kept each other up-to-date on the medal counts.
2008 -- What a difference four years makes! I watched part of the 2008 Olympics in a hotel in Branson, MO (we had met my parents and Shane to go to Silver Dollar City! Yay!). Flora was about 9 months old and I was about five months pregnant with Scout and working full-time. Probably the most exhausting year of my life. I remember thinking that Flora would be 4-years-old the next time the Olympics were played and the baby-in-my-belly would be 3-years-old. It seemed SOOOO far away. Almost impossible.
2012 -- Another transitional time for us. New people, new things, new places. Saying goodbye to the baby phase and hello to three silly kids who try to imitate every Olympic event they see. Flora's new goal in life is to be in the Olympics because she's good at "gymnastic-ing." As the Olympics end I prepare to send my oldest baby off to preschool. It's just two days a week, but I know it's the first little nudge of the long process of pushing her out of the nest. Preschool today, college tomorrow. I won't think about that when I drop her off tomorrow though.
2016 -- Life will be SO different. Flora will be 8-yrs-old, Scout will be 7-yrs-old, and Timber will be 5-yrs-old (but getting very close to being 9, 8, and 6-yrs). I'll be sending Timber off to Kindergarten just as the 2016 Olympics draw to a close. I can't even image how weird that will be.
I assume time flies for the aspiring Olympic athletes just as fast as it flies for me. One day you're hoping to make the team and the next you're standing on the podium trying to soak in the moment. And yet it probably seems to drag on endlessly during grueling training sessions in those in-between years.
The longest days, the shortest years . . .2016 will be here before we know it.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
my pinterest obsession spills over
Pinterest -- it's not just for Mommies! Flora and Scout (with a little bit of help from Timber) spent about 20 minutes perusing kids' rooms on Pinterest this evening. Every few minutes I heard, "Oh, MOMMY! Come look at this bee-autiful bed!" Or "Mommy, this pillow is SO COOL!" They were totally digging it.
After taking great care to examine each room and discuss the pros and cons of the various decor schemes, they finally chose a room for Scout. I was across the room but I heard them reach their decision -- the "Treehouse Room" won. Flora then told Scout, "Now I will click on it and Mommy will buy it when it's on sale."
This is the room I'm supposed to buy "on sale" --
After their Pinterest time it was time for bed. I told them they could talk about all the rooms they saw while they were in bed and maybe they could even do some decorating in their own room. "Maybe you can make YOUR room look like the Treehouse Room," I suggested.
"Wellllll," Scout said, "I think we're going to need a lot of stickers for that."
Haha, stickers it is then!
After taking great care to examine each room and discuss the pros and cons of the various decor schemes, they finally chose a room for Scout. I was across the room but I heard them reach their decision -- the "Treehouse Room" won. Flora then told Scout, "Now I will click on it and Mommy will buy it when it's on sale."
This is the room I'm supposed to buy "on sale" --
"Wellllll," Scout said, "I think we're going to need a lot of stickers for that."
Haha, stickers it is then!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
silly sayings
Scout played PeeWee Flag Football and made a little friend on the team. I realized that we needed to start using different words to describe the kids when Scout said, "Mommy, Chase is my new friend. He's SOOO CUTE!"
I overheard Flora and Scout playing. Scout said, "Flora, let's play Daddy and Mommy! I'll be Daddy and you be Honey."
I was teaching Scout the "Ladies First" rule. He politely let Flora take her turn first and then said, "Ok, now it's MY turn to be the lady!!"
The kids were playing on some jungle gym equipment inside on of the churches we visited in South Dakota. Chris and I were talking to a college-age guy nearby. After watching them play for a while he said, "So......uh, they all seem to be about the same age....??" Haha, I'm sure to a 20-yr-old guy they do!
Flora came to find me with a guilty look on her face. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Ummm," she said, "I kinda colored on Scout's face just a little bit." Uh-huh -- just a little bit!!
I overheard Flora and Scout playing. Scout said, "Flora, let's play Daddy and Mommy! I'll be Daddy and you be Honey."
I was teaching Scout the "Ladies First" rule. He politely let Flora take her turn first and then said, "Ok, now it's MY turn to be the lady!!"
The kids were playing on some jungle gym equipment inside on of the churches we visited in South Dakota. Chris and I were talking to a college-age guy nearby. After watching them play for a while he said, "So......uh, they all seem to be about the same age....??" Haha, I'm sure to a 20-yr-old guy they do!
Flora came to find me with a guilty look on her face. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Ummm," she said, "I kinda colored on Scout's face just a little bit." Uh-huh -- just a little bit!!
Highs and Lows -- South Dakota, Colorado, Arkansas 2012
So, we're back. Home. And it's nice. Very, very nice. There are so many things that I appreciate more about home now than I did 9 weeks ago. Home is nice.
I had a little debriefing session with the kids and Chris after we had been home for a couple days. We talked about what we liked best and what we didn't like at each of our travel destinations (South Dakota, Colorado Springs, and NW Arkansas). Their answers were so amusing that I decided to make notes so I could write this blog later. And now here I am -- writing this blog. Good for me!
So now, without further ado (except to say that I did NOT influence or prompt any of these answers), here's a quick "highs and lows" synopsis of our travels.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Chris' favorite part: the slower pace and being able to set a nice daily routine
Chris' least favorite part: some frustrations that I won't detail on here
Stefanie's favorite part: the big storms and the screened porch (with the lake view!)
Stefanie's least favorite part: living in someone else's house and trying to keep 3 little tornadoes from permanently destroying anything
Flora's favorite part: the three boat rides
Flora's least favorite part: getting her first bee sting
Scout's favorite part: the trains, the bunk beds, and the boat rides
Scout's least favorite part: the loud train whistle
Timber's favorite part: BA
Timber's least favorite part: DOH
COLORADO SPRINGS (with Granny, Grandpa, Uncle Nate, Aunt Mel, Uncle Shane, Aunt Joy, and cousins Callie, Elliott, Toby, and William)
Chris' favorite part: fishing with his dad
Chris' least favorite part: the busyness of trying to fit so much into one visit
Stefanie's favorite part: fun evenings with Nate and Mel after the kids went to bed
Steanie's least favorite part: trying to get the kids (mainly Timber) to eat dinner
Flora's favorite part: going to the ice cream shop, playing with Callie & Ellie, and feeding the fish
Flora's least favorite part: Timber splashing too much in the pond
Scout's favorite part: fish, Granny, Grandpa, William, and the cars
Scout's least favorite part: when Aunt Mel asked if he wanted braids in his hair too (HA!!)
Timber's favorite part: MA
Timber's least favorite part: OY
ARKANSAS (at a lake house with Poppy, Gigi, Uncle Bryan, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Shane)
Chris' favorite part: getting to spend time with Bryan and Shane while they fished
Chris' least favorite part: feeling ready to go home near the end of the week
Stefanie's favorite part: sitting by the lake (WITHOUT kids) and getting to meet cousin Waylon
Stefanie's least favorite part: Timber. Lunch. Dinner. GRRRRR!!!!
Flora's favorite part: swimming at the sand beach, waves, and puzzles
Flora's least favorite part: she did NOT like playing the matching game with Bryan and Amanda when she was on the red team -- only when she was on the blue team (???)
Scout's favorite part: the lake, playing with toys in the waves, and Poppy & Gigi
Scout's least favorite part: "I did NOT like the orange cucumbers!" (HAHAHA!!!!)
Timber's favorite part: UHN
Timber's least favorite part: NO-NO
HOME!!!
Chris' favorite part: I don't know bc I asked the kids this question after he had left.....I would guess that he really enjoys being able to cook his elaborate meals in his own large(ish) fully-stocked kitchen.
Stefanie's favorite part: Fenced yard, dishwasher, and garbage disposal!! (the garbage disposal quit working the first day we were back. Chris immediately went to Lowes for a new one)
Flora's favorite part: seeing her sleeping bag and sleeping in her own room
Flora's least favorite part: the long drive
Scout's favorite part: the toys in the backyard
Scout's least favorite part: the long drive
Timber's favorite part: DA
These kids are AWESOME. They were good travelers and adjusted quickly and easily to every place we went. All our traveling has left an impression on Scout though -- every time we get in the car to go somewhere he asks if it's far away (TOO much driving!!!) and when we get in the car to go back home he asks if we are going "to our own home or to Poppy and Gigi's house or to the lake cabin or to Granny and Grandpa's house or to our vacation home." Haha, poor kid. Hopefully he'll realize soon that we're home for good.
Don't be hurt if you weren't mentioned in the "favorite parts" section (or if you WERE mentioned in the "least favorite parts" section!!!). They had so many fun times and made tons of great memories -- I had to keep pressing to get ANY "least favorite part" answers from them (except for the orange cucumbers -- Scout was pretty adamant about disliking those!!). These were just the first to come to mind at the time. I'm sure I would get totally different answers if I asked again today.
Fun, fun times! But again, it's VERY nice to be HOME!!
I had a little debriefing session with the kids and Chris after we had been home for a couple days. We talked about what we liked best and what we didn't like at each of our travel destinations (South Dakota, Colorado Springs, and NW Arkansas). Their answers were so amusing that I decided to make notes so I could write this blog later. And now here I am -- writing this blog. Good for me!
So now, without further ado (except to say that I did NOT influence or prompt any of these answers), here's a quick "highs and lows" synopsis of our travels.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Chris' favorite part: the slower pace and being able to set a nice daily routine
Chris' least favorite part: some frustrations that I won't detail on here
Stefanie's favorite part: the big storms and the screened porch (with the lake view!)
Stefanie's least favorite part: living in someone else's house and trying to keep 3 little tornadoes from permanently destroying anything
Flora's favorite part: the three boat rides
Flora's least favorite part: getting her first bee sting
Scout's favorite part: the trains, the bunk beds, and the boat rides
Scout's least favorite part: the loud train whistle
Timber's favorite part: BA
Timber's least favorite part: DOH
COLORADO SPRINGS (with Granny, Grandpa, Uncle Nate, Aunt Mel, Uncle Shane, Aunt Joy, and cousins Callie, Elliott, Toby, and William)
Chris' favorite part: fishing with his dad
Chris' least favorite part: the busyness of trying to fit so much into one visit
Stefanie's favorite part: fun evenings with Nate and Mel after the kids went to bed
Steanie's least favorite part: trying to get the kids (mainly Timber) to eat dinner
Flora's favorite part: going to the ice cream shop, playing with Callie & Ellie, and feeding the fish
Flora's least favorite part: Timber splashing too much in the pond
Scout's favorite part: fish, Granny, Grandpa, William, and the cars
Scout's least favorite part: when Aunt Mel asked if he wanted braids in his hair too (HA!!)
Timber's favorite part: MA
Timber's least favorite part: OY
ARKANSAS (at a lake house with Poppy, Gigi, Uncle Bryan, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Shane)
Chris' favorite part: getting to spend time with Bryan and Shane while they fished
Chris' least favorite part: feeling ready to go home near the end of the week
Stefanie's favorite part: sitting by the lake (WITHOUT kids) and getting to meet cousin Waylon
Stefanie's least favorite part: Timber. Lunch. Dinner. GRRRRR!!!!
Flora's favorite part: swimming at the sand beach, waves, and puzzles
Flora's least favorite part: she did NOT like playing the matching game with Bryan and Amanda when she was on the red team -- only when she was on the blue team (???)
Scout's favorite part: the lake, playing with toys in the waves, and Poppy & Gigi
Scout's least favorite part: "I did NOT like the orange cucumbers!" (HAHAHA!!!!)
Timber's favorite part: UHN
Timber's least favorite part: NO-NO
HOME!!!
Chris' favorite part: I don't know bc I asked the kids this question after he had left.....I would guess that he really enjoys being able to cook his elaborate meals in his own large(ish) fully-stocked kitchen.
Stefanie's favorite part: Fenced yard, dishwasher, and garbage disposal!! (the garbage disposal quit working the first day we were back. Chris immediately went to Lowes for a new one)
Flora's favorite part: seeing her sleeping bag and sleeping in her own room
Flora's least favorite part: the long drive
Scout's favorite part: the toys in the backyard
Scout's least favorite part: the long drive
Timber's favorite part: DA
These kids are AWESOME. They were good travelers and adjusted quickly and easily to every place we went. All our traveling has left an impression on Scout though -- every time we get in the car to go somewhere he asks if it's far away (TOO much driving!!!) and when we get in the car to go back home he asks if we are going "to our own home or to Poppy and Gigi's house or to the lake cabin or to Granny and Grandpa's house or to our vacation home." Haha, poor kid. Hopefully he'll realize soon that we're home for good.
Don't be hurt if you weren't mentioned in the "favorite parts" section (or if you WERE mentioned in the "least favorite parts" section!!!). They had so many fun times and made tons of great memories -- I had to keep pressing to get ANY "least favorite part" answers from them (except for the orange cucumbers -- Scout was pretty adamant about disliking those!!). These were just the first to come to mind at the time. I'm sure I would get totally different answers if I asked again today.
Fun, fun times! But again, it's VERY nice to be HOME!!
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