Meet Up

Dear Henny Bear,
So happy that we were able to get in a visit with JoJo, T and Little Jo before school started.  We all met up at the Children's Museum with our packed lunches and excitement to be together.  Our arrival was greeted by T running to me and giving me a big hug.  How sweet!  Then he turned to you while I hugged JoJo... I watched over JoJo's shoulder to see the two of you stare at each other a minute.  You gave each other a double high five that melted into laced fingers and swinging your arms together while you both gave out a bright, "HI!"  MELTED my heart! I caught a shot a second before you let go. It is the sweetness of open adoption and that you and your birth bros know, care and enjoy each other that makes an hours drive mute and essential, not to mention I love chit chatting with my friend, J.  We ate our lunches and you and T were anxious to get to the first thing, but first you all went down the slide together while Hazel and I waved you on.  

We bounced from area to area trying on Chinese opera costumes, playing at the sand and water table, creating your own Chihuly sculpture together, going on the carousel, pretending to be in a dinosaur nest, and playing in the ice cream shoppe.  

Lil' Jo and Hazel crossed paths back and forth and danced together to the carousel music while you and T climbed and hid from each other.  It was a really nice afternoon!  It was hard for you to leave and you avoided it, but then we regrouped and took a couple of great pictures of us all in front of Bumblebee.  

Love getting together. I can't believe how much you are all growing up.  It is so special to share these times together.  
Love, Mama 

#goofballs

via Instagram http://ift.tt/Y0ehA1

Circle Time

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1vxs1RQ

It's happening. I'm freaking out. #kindergarten

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1stP6mk

Sup squares yr lookin at FREAK NO. 1 #freakazoid #freakaleek #Im40

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1uaSuCU

Play Ball. #RedsVsMarlins

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1nAQj3j

Givin' You Some Culture

Dear Hen and Hazey, 
Daddy had a week off work to spend with us! Weeeeeeeee!  We decided to do some exploring in Indy.  We went to the zoo to see the new orangutangs living there.  We started the visit in the butterfly garden, you were anxious to show daddy your butterfly charming skills.

Hazel went straight for the fountain again to splash around.  With more active butterflies and more people it was a challenged to hold one but you were down for giving up and your persistence paid off.  
Then it was on to the orangutangs.  I would debate who was whom.  Hundreds of kids had greased up the windows before us and you added yours to the mess.  
It was fascinating to watch them and you were particularly gentle with your observations, despite other kids pounding on the window you found a spot to sit and smile at them.  The crowds were big and it was time to move on.  

A couple of friends met up with us for a little bit but the two of you were ready to look at more animals.  Hazel loved watching the penguins and snuggled up with daddy while you pet some sharks.  

You grazed about five and that was enough for you.  We decided to leave for some lunch and a quick run through the Indianapolis Art Museum.  

The inside proved to be a challenge for you, not because you were bored but rather you were so excited by what you were seeing you NEEDED to experience it up close and the guards had other feelings about that.  At one point in a big white room with a sculpture of big black orbs you crawled under it.  When the guard told you no touching you said, "I didn't touch anything! I crawled under it."  I just can't believe the artist wouldn't have enjoyed that response, and in fact you didn't even touch it with a hair nor a sleeve.  

We moved on to the next room with a spider web of speakers hanging from the ceiling and a big bench.  The artist had created a loop soundtrack of many voices whispering things they would say in someone's ear whom they love.  You laid on the bench a bit and thought that it was echoing what you said in slow mode.  I couldn't convince you otherwise so I let it go... so at this point trying to contain you was a dangerous mission and we went outside.  

While it took us a while to find the accessible path, once we did we had a great time looking at the outdoor sculptures.  

Henry, you were singing the word sculpture in Operetta style at the top of your lungs.

The favorite seemed to be the skeleton pieces.  You aptly flew from one piece to the next and Hazel stood apprehensively on one piece rigid and considering ways to get down.  

It was a long day at this point and we headed home, but not before getting some dairy queen.  I loved getting to spend the day with my kids and my husband.  I don't think there is often a minute I don't appreciate it all.  



Love, Mama