This is Getting Shameful

I'm still here!  I realize that blogs have dropped off dramatically in number but there are still things worth noting happening here in our little corner of Ankeny, Iowa.  

First I will back up a month or so and post pics from Topher's ~spooky~ Halloween birthday party!  (Then hopefully the momentum will continue and I'll post some more soon.)

Decorating the house, inside and out:

Add one birthday boy who happens to be a total ham:

 One totally awesome graveyard cake:

 

 An interesting party menu complete with zombie fingers (smokies), "tombstone" pizzas, poisoned herbs (salad), witch's brew (sherbert punch), and 8-legged cupcakes (spider themed):

And then just throw in the kids, all in costumes of course!!:

It was so much fun and Topher will always remember the time he had a Batman, a Spiderman, a princess, a bumblebee, two Angry Birds, a pirate (mommy), and a scarecrow (daddy) at his birthday party.  

Yep, we have a FOUR year old now.  That's a child, not a baby, just for the record.

Well, he can still be my little baby.

How blessed we've been to have had four years with this special little boy.  We love you Topher!

--KC

Where have we been?

That's a great question.  The answer is not-so-great: busy.  Busy with preschool and babysitting and planning Topher's birthday party and my sister's baby shower.  Busy with church and social dinners and keeping the house from looking like a war zone.  Busy with nearly chopping off my finger in a blender and with Topher finding more ways to keep his knees continually scraped.  

Just life, in all its doldrums and routines and surprises.

This past weekend TJ's immediate family wanted to get away from it all, and they decided that Decorah, Iowa was the place for some peace and quiet and natural beauty.  

It was a long car ride, but that's why knitting was invented.  Topher was excited to bring his preschool homework along with him.  His assignment was to go on a nature walk with his family and collect all the treasures he found in a baggie.  So on Saturday while the rest of the family went on a bike ride, we went hiking in the Twin Springs park.

As we walked along the paved road, we saw a deep ravine stretching up to a bridge high above us.  It was obvious that there was a path on top of the bluffs but it was not obvious how to get up there.  So we left the path and hiked the ravine.  It was even steeper than it looked, but Topher kept insisting that he could do it.

And by golly, he really could.

The views were very pretty up at the top of our "mountain".

The hike back down wasn't half bad either.  Hiking is probably my most favorite thing to do outdoors.

 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised it ended this way.

Or that our hike was followed by a three-hour nap (from the boy who doesn't take those anymore).  

On Sunday we packed up to go home.  Topher poses here with his *McDonald's happy meal toy that became his best friend over the weekend. 

 *Disclaimer: we do not go near McD's--or any fast food--unless we are on a car trip.  No exceptions.

And even though it was a fun weekend, it felt so good and so right to come home. 

So there you have it.  We are still alive.  Just busy climbing mountains and other such adventures.

--KC

First Day of Preschool

Today was a BIG day.  And it seems like the BIG days are always the hard days.  Today was Topher's first day of preschool.  He was so excited/nervous/anxious this morning that he woke up at 6am sharp and then couldn't even eat any breakfast.  

Before daddy left for work we had a photo shoot on the front porch.

I was babysitting Emma today, so I strapped both kids into the car and we drove to East Elementary 

(which sounds like it might be on the wrong side of the tracks but it's not.  This is, after all, Ankeny and not St. Louis.)

It's a secure entrance building so we had to wait for Ms. Megan (mee-gan) to come collect our children.  Normally we'd say goodbye here but on this first day we were allowed to walk our kids to their classroom.

And then, against every instinct known to mommies, I had to leave him at the puzzle table and walk out of the room.  He seemed fine.  I consoled myself with how well-adjusted he must be as I tried to hold myself together for the next 2.5 hours.  Then I hurried back to collect my baby.

He walked out of school with his lower lip shoved out, sniffling dramatically.  One of the teachers said not to let him fool me, he actually had fun today.  But he did get sad a few times.  They thought he was tired and just missing his mommy.

So I scooped him up and kissed his pouty little lip and took him home.  After his cocoa (chocolate milk), he started to feel better and told me he did have fun.  He just wanted mommy to stay with him in preschool.  And oh, Topher, if I never had to let you go I never would.

Soon he was back to his silly self.

Then, even though he gave up naps quite awhile ago, I thought today was probably a big enough day to warrant one.  And Topher used it as a chance to add one more first to this BIG day:

Sleeping in the top bunk.

It was hard leaving my baby with relative strangers today.  It was hard seeing him come out of the building so sad.  It was hard getting him to talk about it.  It's hard knowing that he's growing up and that his life is branching subtly away from mine.  

But loving this kid down to my soul?  That's the easy part.

Good job today, Topher.  Mommy and Daddy are SO proud of you!

--KC

Seven? Heaven!

A week ago TJ and I celebrated our seven year anniversary.  Because we've known each other for a decade now it often feels like longer, but I'm pleased to report that we've never been so blessed and happy as we are at this very moment.  And while seven years is nothing to sneeze at, I hope it's just the very tip of the iceberg for us.  Someday we'll be two little old raisins together, and I hope that even that is just our beginning.

To celebrate we decided on a trip to Columbia, that very city where we met and incrementally fell in love.  Walking through campus is a jarring experience for me, finding new buildings and streets where none existed before.  I almost cannot recognize it as my campus at all, but I find peace in visiting "our" spots around town, both downtown and in the state parks, that haven't seemed to change one iota.

First stop, however, on the way to Columbia, was the historic Liberty Jail, a church history stop that we had never been to together (we were originally planning to go to the KC temple but Topher came down with a fever and we got a late start that morning).

Then it was on to Columbia, Missouri (CoMo).  Here are a few of our favorite--and must-take-obligatory-pics-in-front-of--places:

Rock Bridge State Park

Faurot Field:

The Quad and surrounding:

We also went and saw a movie in the theater (Dark Knight Rises) and we were able to visit our good friends Anne and Andy (don't you just love that?!?) who have two dogs, a toddler, and a new little baby.  It was a GREAT time, and the baby cuddles and puppy kisses were just the icing on the cake.

Meanwhile Topher did great at the farm, even with a little cold.  And when we brought him back a surprise (a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!), I think he was ready for us to leave all over again.

Happy SEVEN years to the man I admire most.  I'm so happy with you.  I love the child we made together. I love the home we've created.  Thank you for stalking me all those years ago, wink wink.  I love you.

--KC

Give me a five...

I know, I know, we've fallen off the planet.  But here's a little dose of Topher to brighten up your day.  I mean, it doesn't really get any cuter, at least in my humble opinion.



Tomorrow we're off to the KC temple and then on to Columbia to celebrate 7 years of marriage.  Cheers!

--KC