I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was (eight). Jesus, does anyone?

Dear Hen, 
Last school year you developed quite a strong bond with a little buddy, E.  You keep your emotions and thoughts sometimes as close as your skin but with this buddy you've opened up and let more of yourself out, rather than following along with what they want.   You've found a voice and when I asked you about it...the friendship, how close you will let him get to you when others you shrug their touches you told me about how you're weird, he is weird and you can be weird together.  That hit my heart so deep. I hope you are always good friends but at 7 and now 8 I am grateful you've found someone you don't feel judged by or the need to be shy with your personal inclinations and quirks.  We all need to find someone to be weird with. 

Mommy has Daddy, thank goodness.  With E you relax, you don't dig in, you don't get frustrated, you don't get bothered; you just are.  You can find a flamingo at the zoo and name it Bryan and talk about it for months after.  You can visit him while sick at the children's hospital and get close on the floor and bring your spinning disco light to take him away from it for an hour or two, playing games only you two are in on.  

You can wait all summer to go to the fair to ride crazy rides because you know you'll meet every height requirement this year and be okay with the fact that you decided to ask him to be your fair buddy, even though he would rather not ride a single ride.  But your magic rubbed off on him and gave him courage to ride his first big ride, The Sizzler. 

Feeling braver with my fearless boy by his side you road the pirate ship, a real stretch for him.  I asked E after he got off the pirate ship, on scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not at all and 10 being super pumped, how much did he want to ride the ship before he got on it. He said, "A 3!"  I said, "I thought so (he rode this first right with a hat and sunglasses all pulled in close)..now that you're off of it."  A shouting fist pumping, "10!!!"  Thus, the rest of the day was racing from ride to ride pushing limits, laughing together and enjoying each other.  When E wasn't ready he gave you the space to ride on your own, until he was ready to try it too.  You gave him the same respect by taking breaks between the big rides to jump through the maze houses on repeat x20. You were both so excited about your day together when I dropped off E you had me ask Daddy if we could go back to the fair that evening.  We did and an excited E and his Dad and soon to be stepmom were there, too.  Ready to experience the excitement all over again.  You have been good for each other.  I can't think of anything I'd want more for you than seeing you have a close friendship with someone, full of hidden jokes and goofy behavior and consideration of each of your needs.   

Being that you are at the same school and will be in the same class for the next 6 years, at least, I hope that friendship continues to grow and support each other.  I consider this a major milestone for you.  Opening up and letting someone in to our weirdness can be really risky and hard.  I am proud of you that you have.

Love, Mama

Never Fair Enough!

Dear Peep and Peach, 
I've really blown keeping up with our summer excitement.  I missed documenting our entire trip to Chicago!  Not even one picture.  What!  I'll get to that, but for now I want to cover the wonderful Bartholomew and Monroe County Fairs and the State Fair.  The Thompsons are all about the summer fair.  We started our fair adventures at the Bartholomew County Fair in Columbus.  We had to see JD ride his horses for 4H.  You can tell he adores you and showing you his horses and what he does.  When he saw you were a little apprehensive next to that big powerful horse he made the horse's mouth move and talk to you.  This relieved your tension and you giggled a bit.  After watching JD perform we took Nash and Grandma P and Bahboo and found some chicken and sweet corn dinners.

AMAZINGLY delicious!  Then we found our way through the snow cones and the ice cream cones (pineapple whip!) and the funnel cakes and it was clearly time for us to head home.  Great time had by all, even Bahboo and Grandma P, who claim they don't care for the fair, enjoyed themselves.  

A few weeks later in the afternoon we hit the Monroe County Fair with the twinks to check out the chickens and goats.  The grounds were pretty empty so when we got to climb the tractors and invade the small performance stage you guys took full advantage.  Etinne became the cab driver taking you off to your personal workshops, New York City and St. Louis.  Beep Beep, it was adorable!  He even picked up some seasoned cabby talk, with a wry lip and gruff voice.

A few nights later we decided to have dinner at the fair.  We had been promising you rides all week and were super excited to see what you'd choose to ride, until we saw the price.  Wristbands were 18 bucks each!  I had read on the website that you couldn't buy tickets on wristband nights. OOps.  So we distracted you from the rides by eating first.  Lemon Shake Up!  Sweet Corn!  Hamburger!  You were WAY into the sweet corn, as always... eating so quickly that the kernels were flying, you even took off your glasses to protect them from wayward juice pops.   

Hazel was also very interested in the corn but having no top teeth made it impossible for her to eat.  To solve both problems we had Henry eat the corn over your stroller tray and you gratefully ate the golden sweetness that fell your way.  You both seemed to love the arrangement.  

We LOVE to go through the barns and collect lots of pencils, free popsicles, and various other weird stuff.  Sometimes there are goofy activities you get to do but I was particularly surprised at the Monroe County Fair you jumped right into the eye exam station with gusto.  

Then the unavoidable happened, we had to break the news about the rides.  

We walked closer to the ticket booth.  And begins the real story of the fair season...  We looked at the booth signs together and said, "$18 dollars!  Wow, we aren't going to be able to afford getting two wristbands."  So we expect that we are going to have nuclear level disappointment because it is a horrible thing to do to a sweet boy like yourself to promise rides and pull them out from under you in a split second.  Daddy and I were feeling pretty bummed and pretty crummy.  I tried to help talk you down but allowed you to frenzy and explode for a minute.  Finally, you pulled it together.  Arms to your side, clinched in fists, we offered the alternative, WE COULD PLAY SOME GAMES!  You released your tension and sucked in deeply and said okay.  !  I was impressed!  after 3-5 minutes the whole debacle happened, was solved and moved on with.  Seriously!  So, we went to play your first game, Balloons and Darts.  We had a negative prediction for this game but you were pumped.  Happy to see you excited again, you threw your $1 dart and watched it sail steadily through the air to drop about two feet from the board into the grass.  You stood there for a minute, head slung back, arms to your body with your wrists flicking out to the side as if to say, "Is that all?"  Your face was a sad little grimace of complete and utter disillusionment.  

We pulled you away to move on to the skee ball.  This was going to do it for ya!  It started out good because you saw that the game was wheelchair accessible, something you've been paying particular attention to lately.  We threw a couple of rounds to no avail and decided to go to the other side of the midway to play your last game.... but what happened next was a miracle.  The gods were wanting you to ride scary sick making rides as much as you did... we passed another ticket booth that allowed you to buy individual tickets! What?!  I know!  The night couldn't get any better!  

We looked around and decided on rides and that was it!  We bought some tickets and you were leaping giant gallops across the tangled, cabled grasses toward the helicopters, face all a glow with the colored lights.  I could see what a big guy you were being up to that point because you could have been filled with helium the way you floated around with some tickets in your hand.  You gave Daddy a big hug and said thanks.

Your chatter backed up this new elation, "Oh my gosh! This is awesome!"  We were so happy, too!  You are a sucker for the fun houses and little roller coasters.  

 

 

We even ended up bumping into JoJo's sister and her little girl.  A perfect evening.  When the tickets ran out, you just said thanks so much and were the happiest little boy in the world.  We topped it off with some cotton candy and you were eager to see Hazel try some.  It kept sticking to her lips but she loved it, as did the concession stand ladies who stood and oooohed and aaaahed over her while she ate it.  

 

 

Daddy and I were so proud of you.  It was a meanie thing we had to do, but we ended up being able to do a couple of games, some rides and cotton candy for less than what it would have cost for two wristbands.  Thanks for being so understanding but I am really happy we were able to keep our promise without breaking the budget. We love seeing you joyful.

Love, Mama

Cousins! Watch Out for this Brood of Boys

Dear Henry, 
This year's 4th didn't get us massive fireworks thumping our chests and filling up our eyes but it did get us a good day with family.  We meet Uncle Gary and Jonny and Grandma P's and Bahboo's and later in the day Mommy's cousin Kyra and her three boys JD, Kolsen and Nash joined us.  You and Jonny were beyond excited grabbing hands together in the hallway, jumping up and down screaming, "They're here! They're here!"  You guys swam, played hide and seek, swung on the rope swing and chased each other until you were completely worn out.  When it came time to leave nobody wanted to part.  It made me so happy to see you all playing.  When Mommy was a girl her cousins were her favorite playmates and we got together often.  Your generation is a whole brood with ours numbering 8 and yours numbering 12 with two more on the way.  

JD, Kolsen, Jonny, Nash, Henry

Jonny, Gary, Kolsen, Nash, Bahboo

Henry and Nash enjoying Cheeto puffs

Nash, JD, Henry, Kolsen and Jonny

Kolsen, Henry, Jonny and Nash as Hot Dog Zombies

Kyra & Nash, Grandma P and Jonny, Bahboo & Henry and Kolsen watching fireworks.

The next day you were toast for over 2 hours in the hallway.

A few days later we went to the Bartholomew County Fair Grounds to check out John David's equestrian skills.  While we were there he won 3rd and 1st place!  You couldn't have had a better time walking around with Kolsen and Nash to see the animals and to sit on the big antique tractors.  They were so gentle with you and always kept a careful eye on you.  

JD and Blueberry

Henry and Nash looking at the pigs.

Henry, Kolsen and Nash farmers

I love that.
Can't wait for the next two to make their arrival!  Someday your cousins will come in handy!
Love, Mama

The Fair!

Dear Henry, 

We did take you to the fair this year way back at the end of July.  We had a great time last year but this year you were even more excited, talking and pointing out everything you know a word for.  You took greater interest in the rides this time stepping up the stairs on your own to wait your turn.  You rode the helicopters and plummeted down a 
side reachin' into the clouds.  We had a large lemon shake up, hot dogs and fries covered in cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, and ketchup.  We pulled back from last year's fried food marathon.  When in the animal tents you called to them each in their own language with no fear in touchin' them or getting close.  

Cousin Jonny was able to go with us this year and he really enjoyed all of the free sweetie treats we picked up in the barns; cotton candy, popcycles and suckers.

I told Jonny to walk like he is tuff. This is what he gave me.

 


We topped off the night with a seat at the tractor and car demolition derbies.  You clapped along with the crowds and screamed and pointed exclaiming, "tractor!"

We came home and you and Jonny settled into your jammies, read a couple of books and slept so soundly!  So exciting to see your understanding of the world grow.  

Love, Mama