Kids of College Friends

The Remingtons came to town. So we met up at their hotel to let the kids swim and eat pizza. It was fun to catch up!

Daniel S
Vanessa B
Audrey S
Megan D
Zane B
Jackson R
Katelyn D
Allison R
Lydia D
Hendrix B
(and Paul) ;-)

The Ark

We went to The Ark Encounter over spring break. It was sort of a bizarre day because Hendrix fought through any tiredness and we sort of just followed his lead throughout the visit, chasing him from one thing to the next. Even so, we were quite impressed by the size of the Ark, all the information, presentations, and variety of exhibits. It was well organized and well run with tons of very friendly staff.

 It was a little bright outside, so we were not sure what we were taking pictures of. Sorry V and Z!

Tramping

The kids got a trampoline for Christmas. Their Daddy was able to get it up and going just in time for Spring Break. The kids are ecstatic, leading Hendrix into meltdowns because he wants to be on it all the time, even when he needs to stop to eat or just stop to rest.

The kids love that I used to say we would never have one and now here they have one. I explain that I've decided with the new safety things in place and because we can anchor it in windstorms, I'm now okay with having one.

I love that a dog and a purple zebra are jumping on the trampoline.

Another Tree Hugger

As V&Z worked with their dad on a project, Hendrix insisted on doing all the daring stuff his brother and sister do. He started out swinging like Superman on the swingset but then he went to the tree and was trying so very hard to climb up in it before he came to grab me and ask that I help him.

I let him grab onto a branch and he yelled "Daddy, look!" Then he climbed and moved up while pushing my hands away, and again "Daddy, look at me!" He was so proud. But after scooting himself farther up the branch, and not completely sure where to go from there, he decided to move on to the next thing.

Fridge Raider

Some of the hardest stuff with young kids is allowing them to experiment with their independence. Inevitably everything ends up in a mess and survival becomes containing and hiding the messes while going on about other important life matters. ;-) Our fridge is one of the areas that could use some tidyness, along with several other places in the house. But I choose to pick my battles and give room for the kids to have some independence, so I sigh, close the door, and hope I find a moment eventually. But, for real this time, each stage, especially Hendrix's current stage, only lasts for just a short moment . . . and before I know it, I will be looking back, longing for the messes of little people . . . raiding my memory bank to chuckle and poke fun at just how busy they were.

"Take that, Mom!"

When your 2-year-old comes to you dressed and prepared to play lightsabers, you jump on the opportunity. (Plus, that was a little much for his smallness to be trying to carry up the stairs.) After we swatted each other with the lightsabers and few times, and Hendrix shouted "Take that, Mom!", he ran over to the dressup box to grab me a mask. What a fun memory he made. So grateful he included me.

Contorted

These two insisted I sit down and prop up my legs so they could weave their bodies in and out, experimenting with just how well they could contort themselves into different positions while fitting in together. When cuddling, Hendrix likes to put himself in between Zane and me. Or he will sit right on top of Zane as if he's trying to convince me he's in control of the position. Hendrix doesn't do that with Vanessa so much -- he usually settles on sharing my lap with her. He loves Zane so very much but it's interesting to watch him compete with him. Coming as no surprise Zane is quite forgiving and soft and tender in return.

By Design

Do you ever realize something at an odd time? As Zane was reading I noticed that he has another mole in the exact same place as me, right below his right ear, on his neck. He has a few. And we've recently noticed that he has a mole under his right eyelid. His daddy has a mole under his eyelid too. When I pointed out to Zane another mole to match mine, he was sure to point out that he doesn't have the Mollohan mole on his nose. I told him there's still time, since mine popped up in my late teens and early 20s. Even so, there's no mistaking that Zane belongs to Adam and me, but I love the added touches God placed to remind us.

Self Acceleration

Hendrix doesn't often sit through a children's picture book, even though he might be listening to you read, but he insists on carrying around big books. And sometimes he pulls a children's book out of my hands to replace it with a high interest, 3-inch thick book.

When sitting down with a big book, he seems to study the words before he closes it and carries it with him. Perhaps he's just trying to figure out why there are a ton of letters and there are patterns of chunks and certain letters.

He'll carry the books to bed and sleep with them, tightly holding onto one or two and sometimes cuddled underneath. We'll continue to work on formative goals and provide him with essential tools for when he decides that maybe the children's books have something to offer.

He's Crafty

Zane likes to make things and comes up with some interesting stuff.  This particular project is pretty subdued compared to some of the things he does. Here he's making a holding container out of cardboard circles he cut. He'll try to mimic some things Vanessa does, but he's realizing that he has some pretty clever ideas of his own. And he's now taking the initiative to explore and try his ideas without fretting over whether or not his sister is there to hold his hand. Sometimes he's more confident than Vanessa ever has been, especially when it comes to using new tools and devices for the first time.

Maple Leaf Memories

Life is so full I'm unable to capture all I would like. There are thoughts and things I've wanted to document here but can't find the time. And then there are things I want to post and I finally get a chance, but I can't remember if I already touched on it in the past. Even so, I'm often struck again and again by the things that significantly touch me, and so even if I did end up sharing at some point in the past, it's probably okay to share again. One day someone will see that it must have mattered, and even if they don't notice, it's okay since really it's for me.

A few years ago my uncle and aunt were cleaning out boarded up rooms in my step grandmother's 200-year-old home. They passed on several things that belonged to my dad, that she had preserved. Some things were reminders and not too surprising. Other things were quite interesting and very much surprising. (It's like recently discovering in the newly released digital newspaper archives that my father received awards in high school for FHA projects and duties -- for which he never mentioned to us children, probably because he always felt like a failure and that without all the official titles as a grown man, his accomplishments in high school didn't matter. That breaks my heart. He was brilliant and very talented, and the world missed out on most of who he was.)

One of the things passed on to me were wooden maple leaves. The leaves had small wooden pieces attached to them to serve as mini shelves. The leaves were stained brown. Adam painted them red and white and decided to use them in the den to display pictures of his Canada trips. How fitting. I wish Dad could see how even his son-in-law appreciates the little things he did. I love to walk into the den and to be reminded of Dad and the things that make Adam happy.