Adam is funny looking

On our way home we stopped in Des Monies, IA and had dinner with my brother, Adam, who has recently returned from the Desert. Then he will be off later in August to visit the orient. Such an exciting life for him. We had to take some pictures because he is totally silly and wearing this pron stash that he should really shave soon. I told him I was going to up load the picture to facebook, I should really do that. Anyway, it was nice to quickly catch up with him, even thought it would have been nice to have a longer visit, but time did not allow for that. We'll have to see him on some return trip from all of his travels.

Wisconsin

I am suck a slacker. I keep sitting at my computer and saying to myself, wow I really need to update my blog. And then I roll past and do something else. Well instead of retracing my steps and putting up items I wanted to put up, I'll just start from where I am at.


Last weekend we made a quick trip up to Wisconsin for Jodi's, Ben's oldest sister's, summer party. We were not able to make it last year do to a conflict with Ben's work and almost did not go this year do to BELLY size. But we made it after all, I mean really, I had to pick up two of my own kids. And I think everyone had a great time. The kids all had a blast, and they all got a chance to see their cousins, so it was a good trip.


Isabelle was excited since she has not really had a chance to do much this summer because she has been busy with other things. The day we left we went to a place called Eat My Fish, we had been there before for Barrett's 3rd birthday, but this time we actually caught some fish. The kids had a blast. We caught our own fish and then they cooked them for us, and for me the egg plant that I brought along. Let me tell you grilled egg plant is great. And no I'm not one of those vegetarians who freak out when meat touches the food I'm going to eat. Heck half the time I buy a salad with meat on it and give it to Cooper instead of buying him a meal. Anyway, it was lots of fun and all the kids caught a fish.

My Summer Reading Plan

Ok so I have a Goodreads account where I like to keep track of the books I have read and plan to read. I have a good list that I want to read and some of those books have been on that list for years. Years you say, yes can you believe it! I know I can't. So I decided that this summer, between watching kids and having a new baby, I would start at the top of my list and work my way down. I will probably add in other books not on the list or at the bottom, but at least one will come from the first page. This weeks books are the following: Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express, and Lian Hearn Brilliance of the Moon.

I chose the Christie novel because I have never read on one hers before, and thought why not. Maybe it will give me something to talk about to old people with, haa, haa.


The Hearn novel I chose because it is the third book in the series and I just figured it was time to finish it up. The series has been pretty good so far, set in feudal Japan, with secret societies and warriors with special skills.


We'll see how I do, since most of the books off my list I will probably be getting from the library, I do tend to pick up random books not one my list and then read them. I don't often like to be without a book to read, so that adds to my need to plan well. Anyway, hopefully my plan will work.

Community Service

In our area we have a community program called "Feed the Children for the Summer." Every Wednesday night for ten (10) weeks people gather to make bags of food for children to eat during the summer. These are some of the kids who are on free or reduced lunches at school and would otherwise be without food during the day for summer.

Isabelle's Girl Scout troop went last night, for the first week to help fill bags, move them to the right food bank location and just perform overall community service. This was a great experience for the girls and I think they had a bunch of fun. Cooper even got in on the helping out, by filling bags, he did a great job. I really hope to be able to take all three of the kids at one point or another over the summer to participate because I think it is good for them to see and help out those in need.

I would have taken some pictures but I knew I was going to have to follow Cooper around so I did not want to be distracted with the camera. Maybe next time when we go with Barrett. We'll have to wait and see. I do think we will try to make an effort to go a couple times per month to help, since it does go for such a good cause.

This weeks bags were filled with the following items:

2 packages of single serve Mac and Cheese
1 Chef Boyardee meal
1 Can of Tuna
1 Cup of Noodles
2 Quaker granola bars
2 Quaker single serve Oatmeal packages
1 apple sauce
1 fruit cup
1 peanut butter sandwich crackers pack
1 Trail Mix bar
1 box of mini-cereal (like you use when camping)
1 container of pudding

I began to wonder if all these kids knew how to use a microwave and can opener. And if their parents helped to ration out the food so that it did last a whole week. I'm pretty sure my kids would eat at least half the bag the first day, if someone did not ration the food. After all we sometimes do two snacks a day, one in the am before lunch and one after rest time. And who knows if these kids have a parent at home during the day or someone to watch them. At least they have some food to make it through the week.

Either way it was a lot of fun and I plan on going back to help some more. The kids did a great job! Oh a few more tidbits of information, we filled over 700 bags and the weeks worth of food cost was around $3,400. They even think that they will get more requests due to increased publicity. So if you would like to donate money please let me know and I will get it taken care of.

Just some thoughts . . .

Does it seem a little odd that I felt or feel that Bear was more ready to be a big brother than Cooper is; especially since there is about the same amount of time between the two. Some days I actually feel that Barrett was more mature at 2 1/2 than Cooper is or will be at the same age. I'm not quite sure why I feel that way. I don't know if I feel that way because he was the baby for so long in my head that I almost figured he would always be the baby or is it something else. After all Bear has his days when I just want to send him away because he is being so frustrating. I have seen him grow up a lot recently too as well, which is nice. That gives me hope for Cooper. Not to say that Cooper is a bad kid he is just two. They don't say it's terrible for no reason. But I do question whether or not he is ready to be a big brother, I just hope he understands. He still wants to be carried a lot, and I won't always be able to do that for him with a new baby. Plus he gets so frustrated when you do not understand him and figure out what he wants. I guess it will all work out in the end but I'm just not sure at this point. Maybe if I start to get things more ready for the baby, Cooper will beginning to understand better. Only time will tell, until then I can just hope that Cooper will be understanding and work through any issues he has or will have with the new baby.