Smell those feet!

Last Friday Eden and I went to Six Flags, just the two of us. We had lots of fun. It was nice to go with her and do the slides, wave pool, and rides that she can do and her brothers cannot. She just loves the Tidal Wave, it was actually like 70 degrees, so rather chilly for the water rides, but that is what she wanted to do. Anyways at one point we headed to the bathroom. [Sidenote: When we go to the bathroom these days, I always make her go to the stall next to mine so we can always see each other's shoes.] But this time we actually didn't have any shoes on (although it sounds gross, it was normal at the water park). I was staring at her feet, I still knew they were her feet, but for the first time they looked HUGE! I just sat there and realized she doesn't have baby feet anymore. I probably wouldn't even pretend to smell them, like I have in the past and like I still do for Eli and Tobe (you know the "stinky toes" game). No cuteness to her feet. It made me sad to think this thought. It made me think of a book my friend gave me "Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury. This book highlights some of the "lasts" we have as parents. Usually we are always documenting the firsts. First smile, first word, first step, first t-ball game, first recital, first report card, first boyfriend, etc. But we never really document the lasts. The book is a real tear jerker for moms. So that is what came to my mind. I don't remember the last time I smelled her feet and pretended she had "stinky toes" and now she and her feet are too big for that. It may help me savor each and every moment, because it may be the last time I do that game, hold that tradition, tell that joke, sing that song, give that bottle, say that prayer, smell those feet.

the Jack's

OK---this is actually a comment to one of my friend's very funny posts of her intense need to pick up a package (Season 3 of 24) and her minute by minute play of whether or not she was able to accomplish her mission. I decided my comment was so long, and obviously something Chris and I are passionate about, so I just decided to re-post it on my page so that you would know how Chris and I got hooked on "the Jack's":
I love Jack, Chloe, Tony, and anyone remotely associated with 24. Our BFF's got us to watch it during the off season also (I think in one summer Chris and I watched Seasons 1-4)....Since then we've been watching it via the TIVO, which is a lot harder to have to wait a week to see IF Jack will get out of his predicament. But I least I get some sleep....Watching 4 episodes in one night can be kind of draining when you actually have to care for your offspring the next morning. Anyways you MUST catch up, because it definately becomes love/hate!!! Our friends also made us do this with LOST the next summer and we again caught up and it is just as bad, but his name is Jack ________? For some reason his last name just left me. Anyways, I LOVE both Jacks....and also thought your post was the most intense I've read lately...way to keep me on the edge of my seat. BTW, since Chris and I must drive a mini-van, at least it is jet black and Chris likes to call it the CTU van. That way if Jack is ever in need to apprehend a van, we are ready!

Shepard! His name is Jack Shepard. Whew! It just came to me. I feel good that I didn't have to google it. For a minute I was thinking I'm not a real fan. BTW, our friends tried to get us to watch HEROS as well. But we had to draw a line somewhere. We are addicted to the Jack's. Is there a character named Jack in heroes? I might reconsider if there was.

Lazy Days of Summer

Summer has been crazy. Whatever happened to that old saying "the lazy days of summer"? We have been to to the lake in Branson (just the kids and I went with Missy and her kids to their cabin for a couple days), VBS (It worked me out daily and I got "swamped" literally at the end), mini stayvacation in St. Louis (in one weekend we caught a Cards game, Six Flags, and the Zoo),4 night camping trip at the Meremac for the 4th, mini-Springfield vacation (Fantastic Caverns,Lambert's, and the Landing w/ our friends in Branson), not to mention a book club and a bible study and normal church gatherings thrown in there. If we don't have major plans we are trying to take advantage of the tot time at the city pool and our season passes to Six Flags. Chris is planning an FFH/Newfire concert and we had Highest Praise from OCC here as well. Now to end out the summer, Eden is participating in cheerleading camp and gets to cheer during the Little League Football season in the fall. We have the annual fair (which is HUGE here). Chris always has a float in the parade and it normally is the hottest day of the year. This year my MOPS group is going to offer a diaper changing/nursing station at the fair which will take lots of extra time. Plus Eli likes the fair more than Six Flags (he actually calls it eight flags (more flags, more fun!). My Eli turns 4 on August 16th and then starts preschool on the 18th. My baby girl starts the 1st grade! Finally Tobe and I will get some rest. (Side note: Maybe he will start talking when brother and sister are not around to do it for him.) I am going to need a break from summer vacation. Needless to say that is why I haven't posted all summer and probably won't post again till September. Who knows? We've been anything but lazy, which is why when we are actually at home: guess what? We are lazy!