9th Anniversary

Thank goodness for bed guards!

Thomas the Train

So, in case you didn't already know, Gus really likes this line of toy trains called "Thomas the Train." So, Gus's "Oma" offered to send us boys to a traveling event called "Day Out With Thomas." They stopped here in town at a local train museum a few months back. Gus had been to the train museum with his "Papa Gus" before, so after the golf cart drove us from the parking lot to the gate (an early highlight) he hit the ground running.

He led me down between two lines of retired cars and engines and we ended up in front of a breakdown train (a train with a crane that is able to pick up derailed cars). Gus has a toy breakdown train so it was perfect for him to see a real one. We happened to arrive just before they started their demonstration. I couldn't believe the thing still worked. The driver (?) picked up a train chasis and moved up and down and from side to side. It was actually pretty amazing. Gus was in awe.

After the breakdown train, we made a quick jaunt past all of the vendor tents. They had one set up as a shop that was full of all things "Thomas." We moved very quickly through that area. Have you seen how much that stuff costs? We spent more time in the tent full of train tables and Thomas figurines.

After we stepped out, I noticed a line forming in front of a small stage so I figured we'd just get in line and see what happened. We were only a few people deep, but by the time Thomas arrived with eyes moving, horn tooting and steam billowing, the line stretched back to the edge of the parking lot. I missed the opportunity to snap a picture of Gus's face when he saw Thomas pulling up, but it was classic. Turns out the stage was for picture taking. I sent Gus up the stage by himself so I could capture a few shots, but I couldn't ever get him to look at me for longer than a second or two. This was the best I could do.

Our boarding soon followed and we enjoyed a 20 or so minute ride in a passenger coach with "Thomas" at the helm. We went over several bridges, passed old train cars, a parking lot with several semi-trucks in it and just rolled along through the woods. Towards the end of our trip we spent some time in between the cars where we could get a better view. I wasn't sure whether or not that was permissable, but one of the conductors came out and chatted with us for a while, answering our questions as we headed back to the station.

After we disembarked, we walked around to see what else the event had to offer (notice the toy Thomas in Gus's hand).

It was no surprise that even at a train museum, with Thomas in attendance, that Gus would take several opportunities to climb up in the various golf and utility carts that were parked around the site. Maybe when he is 16 he'll take a golf cart instead of a car.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the petting zoo. I know, they are kind of creepy, but I decided to relax a little bit and let him explore. Although they had chickens, a turkey, rabbits, a sheep (a very hot sheep, by the way), ducks and a pig, Gus's favorites turned out to be the kids (goat babies, right?). Gus laid on them just like he does with our cats. He was so attached to them and they didn't seem to mind him at all.

In the end, we left the petting zoo b/c Gus was crying. He said that one of the big goats bit him when he was feeding it a leaf from a nearby tree, but I think one of its horns grazed his head. Ouch!

After the golf cart took us back to the car, we finished off the long and hot afternoon at Dairy Queen with an ice cream cone and a bag of french fries. As far as father-son outings go, I give it a 9 out of 10. We had a great time. Thanks Oma!

Who loves you?

I like to play a game with Gus called, "Who Loves You?" The point is to remind him that God loves him most and, secondly, that there are a lot of other people that love him, too. So, I'll pose the question and then he will list some of the people that love him. He always starts with "God."

Today:

"Who loves you?"

Gus - "God!"

"Who else loves you?"

Gus - "Pharoah!"

Apparently, we still have some work to do.

6 months old

Kathryn Persis is 6 months old! She is such a joy to have in our lives. She loves to smile and be tickled and observe all the activity around her. She is a great cuddler when she chooses to sit still, but most of the time she is in motion. She is still tiny (12 lbs 5 oz & 25 inches at her check-up), but what she lacks in size she makes up for with strength and physical prowess. Her arms and legs are always moving, she loves rolling both ways to grab her toys and she wants so badly to situp that she does mini-situps whenever we lay her on her back. Her favorite place to be is in the Johnny Jumper and she can really get some air!!

Kip's favorite toys are anything fabric.... ...and this soft plastic book which she crumples and gnaws on with gusto.

Solid foods have been a bit of a challenge with this precious girl. Don't let that sweet face fool you. She has deadly accuracy with her left hook when a spoon wanders nearby.However, when the mood is right she eats like a horse. Her current favorite: avocados. Good thing they're high in fat:)We are also making great strides in the napping area, once I accidentally discovered that she is soothed by up and down motions. I was trying to sneak in some exercise one day while she was a little fussy and demanding to be held. I started doing lunges and realized a minute or so later that she was all snuggled in and almost asleep. I've been doing that routine ever since at nap time and bed time and it works like a charm. And my legs are getting some serious toning!

We love this girl so much!! And except for when I'm woken up in the middle of the night, I don't want her to grow up:)

Chase!

Gus's favorite game these days is chase. It is one of the first things he wants to do in the morning and definitely the first thing he wants to do when I get home from work each afternoon. Typically, he will let me chase him until I can't go any longer. Between the two of us, we still haven't reached his threshold. This morning, I decided to make an effort to chase him until HE wanted to stop.

Our normal route is a loop, running from the kitchen, to the back entry room, into the jack/jill bathroom, through our bedroom, into the dining room and completing the loop back in the kitchen. I measured it just for fun. The loop is approximately 70 feet. Thankfully, Gus prefers that I stand on the back of his tricycle and push myself while he runs ahead of me.

The end result: 62 laps. Of course, things start to blur together when you're running the same course that many times, but I feel pretty comfortable with that number.

He ran for the first 46 or 47 laps and then finally started walking after that. So, I believe that means that he ran more than half a mile! I tried to surreptitiously drop off the tricycle at about lap 53 (my quads were burning), but he caught me and asked me to get back on. In the late 50s, I asked if he was ready to stop b/c he was walking so slowly and he replied, "We're not done yet." In the end, he was distracted by a siren outside. After the emergency siren faded away, he asked to chase again. I wasn't surprised, but I just couldn't do it.

He talked on every lap. We were various Thomas the Train characters along the way. At one point, we were each Zoom, Zoom Bully (a character from one of his books; don't buy it if you can avoid it!). We each got several "tickets" along the way for going too fast. Somewhere towards the conclusion, I ended up with a police SWAT hat on.

He is an amazing little fella. I only wish we had the patience and energy to play with him the way he wants and deserves. We love you, Gus Man.

Yikes.

I think I may have gotten a little behind on the ironing.

Sunday

Lately life has been extremely busy for us. I'm usually trying to do so many things at the same time, that I find myself aimlessly wandering around the house, unable to decide what to do first. So I've really started looking forward to our Sunday afternoons. Life is purposely slower and we are all together. Here's what this past Sunday looked like:

Finger painting Wouldn't be complete without a vehicle involved in some way!

Kip watched the festivities from the comfort of her Johnny Jumper

(her current favorite hangout).

Then a sightseeing trip to check out the military vehicles at the armory. Unfortunately, the gates were locked, so we had to be content with peering through the (quite formidable!) fence.

Then some wide open spaces at the cemetary.

The weather was beautiful, and the day was made even better when we rolled up at the house and dinner was already made for us, thanks to our meal coop friends. Yahoo for no dishes and a laidback evening.

"Dunn, Dunn...Dunnnnnn"

Dear Faithful Blog Readers,

We need your advice. We think we're just about ready to take the potty training plunge with this sweet boy.

We've informally given it a shot a few times (with no lasting success or enthusiam on anyone's part!), but we'd like to get all the helpful advice and tips we can before we get seriously started. So, please, wow us with your bathroom knowledge:)

Baptism

Psalm 103:17 "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness to their children's children."

We celebrated Kip's baptism a few weeks ago on March 14th. She did a wonderful job and looked beautiful in her baptism gown from Grandpa and Granny Deterding.

We enjoyed our time with all the family members from both sides who were able to come down. Thanks to everyone for making the trip!

Grandma Judy & Papa GusOma & OpaNonnie

Grandma K

4 generations

I had to include this picture! They both look so happy:) It was so sweet to have my grandmother (and Gus & Kip's great-grandmother!) with us. She was a huge help-ironing table clothes and Kip's gown. It was wonderful to see her again.

We love you so much, Kip.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

Thank you