Conner Praire

Hazel, Ella, Jonny, Tyler, Jack, Henry

Dear Hensril and Hazelletta, 
Last week to our delight Mommy's cousin Wendy called up and wanted to meetup at Conner Prairie.  Well! I have wanted to go there forever but just haven't done it so despite the cold weather we bundled up and did it.  I am so glad we did.  Mama, being a history teacher, loves little living history towns.  You loved the town but really loved getting to meet up with your cousin Jonny Cakes, his house is just around the corner as well as second cousins Ella, Tyler and Jack.  I enjoyed listening to you all figure out how you were related as Tyler argued you were all cousins and you asserted that you were in fact second cousins because Jonny and Tony were your only first cousins.  We had quite a crew.  Aunt Claricee was there but she was smart enough to stay inside protected from the cold while we checked out the town.  We started out riding a little shuttle to the town store.  Of course you were all excited about this.  

It dropped us off at the general store where the Civil War was is full swing.  We were greeted by a soldier who had us hide important papers before the Confederate army came in to search the grounds.  When Confederate soliders came into the store our Union solidered shouted for us to get down.  Our little crew did not hesitate. 

When "shots" were fired I looked over at you Henry and your eyes were GIANT and your mouth was clearly trying to maintain cool while your brain reminded you this wasn't real.  Before the second shots were fired you decided to scoot yourself under a little table for cover.  

SO! SMART!  You weren't taking any chances.  Of course Hazel you slept through it all.   Next Tyler spoke with a lady who had a picture scavenger hunt for us to do.  This was fun seeing you all find the picture, run to the building and ask questions.  The first was a house where you asked questions about living there and played with some wooden soldiers.  You were all grossed out by their dishes in the sink and how they got clean water.

Then it was to the blacksmith's shop where you looked around and helped them do work by putting the different types of horseshoes away.  You and Jonny weren't happy about not getting to finish the task but Ella and Tyler had found a fun game with a hoop and pole.  

The mercantile showed you how to weigh nails.  The shop keeper asked you to do some work for him unloading the wagon out back of its crate boxes of china.  You boys took this seriously and made short work of it together. 

I think you would have stayed at the candle making stand forever.  This was very exciting to get to dip the string into the hot wax.  

Little Jack was in love with the animal barn and when we left kept turning back to find his way back to the cute baby goat.  About that time Wendy and I had caramel apples on our mind and decided we should round up Aunt Claricee and get us some.  

OH MAN! They were awesome and Aunt Claricee was nice enough to treat us all.  We bought some extra to take home to Daddy.  Nothing is sweeter than watching kids gnaw at caramel apples.  

(I'll confess here that I hid them in the cupboard and we ate them after you fell asleep.) Well, it was time to go home at this point so we said our goodbyes and got on our way.  We have to do something all together again. It was nice and familure having family cousin time.  

I'm glad the two of you have so many cousins, even if most of them are second cousins (14).  I know what my cousins have meant to me over the years.
Love, Mama 

Always a Helper

Dear Laundry Partner, 
Last night I decided to do some laundry while you and Daddy were finishing up an episode of Green Lantern.  A short while you came in and offered your help.  You're good about that, offering help.  So I told you I could use some more hangers from your closet.  You jetted down the hall, my ear peaked to hear if you were doing what I asked.  My first clue that your interpretation of the task at hand was not the same as mine should have been when you brought in Daddy's "Kickaburra" shirt he wore as a boy.  I sent you back... tick tock time was passing.  I came down the hall and walk in your room and feel my blood start to boil as I look at the floor PILED WITH EVERY LAST SHIRT, SWEATER AND T-SHIRT IN YOUR CLOSET...then a shiny smiley faced boy atop of his shoe bin says, "Look Mommy what I did! I got you some hangers!"  Well, my blood settled and I could only laugh.  You were mighty proud of being a big help.  I explained what I was really asking for and your smile fell flat then you started to giggle with me.  

We spent the next half hour picking it all back up and then me shouting at you because you kept jumping on the pile cracking hangers.  But ah, I love when you want to help me!
Love, Mama

Going on a Dig

Dear Peep, 
Our great friends Heather, Phillipe and the twinx just returned from France and they brought you the best gift EVER!  It was a little block of chalky stuff that had a mammoth skeleton hidden inside.  They kit gives you a couple of tools to dig out the mammoth like a real paleontologist.  It was so cute!  You worked SO hard on getting those bones out.  You spent a good hour working on it.  You would work real hard then sit back letting out a WEW!  exclaiming you're getting so tired.  We would offer that perhaps you should take a break and come back to it and you'd take a deep breath, lean forward and dig in again.  You REALLY wanted to get that skeleton together.  When the first bone poked out you cheered and yelled out, "A BONE!"  Then the chalky material really started to fly!  

Finally! A tusk!

Daddy and I were so impressed with your passion to get the job done, even with growing frustrated and tired your focus stayed on the task at hand.  We finished it up and put it together.  You were really excited about this.  It was a great evening together.  The dust, chunks and mess was impressive, always a good sing that fun and learning are being had.  We loved seeing you so excited.  There are lots of sets so we think Santa Claus my be bringing you more if he is making them this year in his workshop. I believe you decided this one needs to hang from your ceiling.
We love how cool you are. 
Love, Mama

Apples!

Dear Henny and Hazel Nut, 
We've not spent a lot of time at the Farmer's Market this year.  The summer was SO HOT it was hard to be outside for any length of time without being in water or having it in a constant spray over us.  We just didn't have the motivation to get up on a Saturday and go out into it.  Today we went and were pleasantly surprised by apple tasting tables from local farmers.  YES!  Bundled up, we enjoyed the crisp of the air and that of the sensational featured Fuji apples.  Henny, you loved being able to stab those little squares with a tooth pick and we had to stop you from taking our samples out from under us.  

Hazellie, you stayed snuggled up and warm up close to Daddy snoozing without fail.  

We moved on to a booth that had cans with punched out constellation formations on the end.  You (Hen) peered into each and provided commentary while listening intently to the woman explaining their names.  

We left to have some brunch and hot chocolate at Waffle House.  I felt a lot of joy and peace today; the four of us together on such a beautiful afternoon.  I am a lucky Mama and Wifey.

Love, Mama 

Bath Time!

Dear Peep and Zellie, 
Here we are! Two kids!  Big boy you are the most helpful big brother and Hazel you are the sweetest little sister ever.
I love this.

 You gently poured water over her tummy and she thrust her feet in there air.  I love seeing you help Hazel out. 
Love, Mama

Back to School

Dear Peep, 
You started back to preschool 2 days a week for a few hours.  You were so handsome your first day, well and everyday of course.  You were so excited, right up until we got to the door.  You begged me not to leave ya.  You didn't want me so far away.  So it went the first three times you went.  You came home and chit chatted at length about your day but you didn't want to go back for sure!  Now you're in the groove and while yous till beg to "just stay home with you Mommy," before every school day you are having a grand time playing with kids and talking the teacher's ears off about your new baby sister.  You did tell them that your sisters name is Boingy Furry.  I walked in one day you telling them "she doesn't cry much and her hair is just so soft!"  You've already made some wonderful crafts, such as a cute little apple guy with three eyes, a nice smile and the only one with green arms and legs.  You were super charged during the Teddy Bear theme week.  

You had a very hard time choosing a teddy bear to take in.  The first day you choose a blue Care Bear teddy that plays the alphabet with a good squeeze.  

I'm taking this one.

"Did you get them all in?"

You know that GG bought this for you, one of your first gifts from her.  I asked you if you would tell them your GG gave it to you and you looked at it, squeezed it tightly and told me you'd just keep that a secrete.  You also were asked to bring in some books that featured bears.  You selected Bear Snores On and You Can Do it Sam.  I'd say you're doing really good these days playing with buddies and participating, though Zumba is not your cup of tea and you choose to sit back and enjoy watching instead.  They will never know what a dance machine you truly are.  It is divine to pick you up.  You run to me full gusto, toss your arms around me and squuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezeeeeeeeeee so tight and give me kisses, kisses and more kisses.  You tell me you miss me.  This makes our hours a part so worth while.
Love you! Mama

Two Sweet

Dear Hazie Mazie, 
I had to post these because you are incredibly sweet.  Grandma P bought this little wicker stroller for you to play with someday.  Henny loves this thing!  but for now I'll just prop you in it for a few picts.  
Love you sweet girl, Mama

Dear Peep, 
I love a cold morning to put a cool hat on your head.  You do too.  Love this cuddly moment.  Your pants are rolled because the transition between short pants and long pants was a little difficult.  You were less than thrilled by the feel of the pants on your ankles.  Love your quirky little butt, 
Mama

We were playing different animals, here you are a fox getting away.

Look at you babies!  (Just look at them!)  I still feel like I am stuck in a dream.  Can I really have two children as special and sweet and crazy as these two?  I look at these pictures and I see each of their birth mama's, Hazel's WW and Henny's JoJo and I wouldn't/couldn't have it any other way.  We are sisters and women in the world that needed each other in may different ways.  I love them both.  My gratitude makes me crumble at times.  It also makes me stronger to make the difficult parent choices I need to make as a parent.  Still in disbelief, I look at them, snuggle their soft skin, whisper to them and breathe in all that goes into their being.  By nature and nurture these babies are going to be the coolest ever.