Rules, God and Rocketships

A rare photo-less blog post (my first one?)... but the dialogues here stand on their own with no visuals needed. Conversations with kids can be so refreshing, so innocent, so sincere and so unpredictable. They can inspire, lift us up, make us laugh (or cry) and remind us of why parenting is the most rewarding (and challenging) endeavor in the world. Over the years we've always treasured these simple moments. These are a few exchanges I had with Luke from the past weekend - definitely worth sharing.

Pulling into the church parking lot.
Luke: "Dad, how about I take my iPad into church and keep the volume off?"
Dad: "No, you can't do that. It's against the rules."
Luke: "So many rules... how do you remember them all, Dad? When we get home, please write down all the rules so that I can remember them when I'm grown up."

At mass, returning from communion.
Dad (motioning to the kneeler): "Luke, please say a prayer. Church is almost finished, we're going to leave in a minute."
Luke (kneels down, crosses hands together, bows head and closes his eyes): "Dear God, I'll see you next week."

Saturday evening, about 45 minutes after Luke has gone to bed, but he has not fallen asleep. I've heard him scurrying about in and out of his bedroom several times to get a drink or peek at the TV show that Maddie is watching. Finally he walks into the office where I'm on the computer.
Luke (squinting his eyes and pulling up his PJ shorts): "Dad, something on my leg is bothering me."
Dad (kneeling to examine the leg): "I don't see anything. Let me carry you back to your bed."
Now in Luke's bedroom
Dad: "Were you scratching your leg?"
Luke: "Yes, and I put some Chapstick on it."
Dad: "Oh... okay. Chapstick isn't for legs, buddy. It's only for lips"
Luke: "Can you write that rule on the list too, Dad?"

Upon preparing to leave to pick up a few items at Home Depot, I ask if anyone needs anything while I'm out. Luke hands me a list with the following items:

Rockets
Connectors
Bed Legs
Steering Wheel

Dad: "What are these for?"
Luke: "So we can build our rocketship!"

Kayaking in Watson Lake

Last weekend we took a day trip to the cooler climes of Prescott Arizona and spent some time kayaking on Watson Lake. Some clouds and nearby storms almost ruined our plans, but the weather passed and we hit the water. The lake is a reservoir surrounded by huge granite rocks and outcroppings. In certain areas of the lake, you're completely surrounded by the rock formations giving the lake an appearance that is almost unworldly. The lake has lots of fingers and branches that make exploring in a kayak fun, at times it almost feels like your exploring a new uncharted world.

The kids had a good time exploring the lake. Luke was "captain" of the kayak and guided his boat from his position in the front seat ("go between those rocks", "go left", "go right", "go faster", etc). Maddie is big enough to "pull her own weight" and she helped paddle the kayak, taking turns paddling with Mom and paddling with Dad. At the midpoint of our journey, we stopped on a granite island (outcropping) to stretch our legs and swap kayaks. It was a relatively isolated area that produced a great echo - Luke loved yelling and hearing himself echo in the distance.  Maddie fed some fish a handful of potato chip crumbs, but we're not sure if the fish ate them or not.

On our paddle back to the dock, a competitive race evolved with both kids urging their boat-mate parent to "paddle faster". In the end, both kids claimed victory (Luke touched the dock first, Maddie got to land first) and both parents assured the kids that they're both winners, thus diffusing a potential argument (phew). It was a great day and it's sure to be a place we visit again in the future for another kayak adventure.

Rock formations surrounding the lake

Rock formations surrounding the lake
(notice the high water marks on the rocks, about 12' above the current lake level)

Maddie and Mom navigate pass some rock formations

Luke guides us to our destination

Luke and Dad chatting during a camera break

Girl power!

Dad and Luke paddle away from the girls

Girls enjoying the scenery (and working hard too)

Luke says, "Head for that rock" 

The girls made a pretty good paddling team (though not as fast as the boys)

Taking a break on a rocky island... perhaps a picnic spot on a future visit?

Luke wants to climb to the top of the rock... a sheer 30 foot cliff to the left.  We didn't try.

Maddie takes a short break

Dad and the kids enjoy exploring the rocky island during our rest

Mom and Luke paddle back toward the dock

Maddie paddles to catch Mom and Luke (ahead on the left)

First Day of School 2015

It's hard to believe that the new school year started nearly 3 weeks ago. This year Luke is enrolled in a pre-K class that meets 3 days each week. He is back at the same preschool that he's attended for the past two years so he is already comfortable with the school environment, and he recognized a few familiar faces of students in his class on day one.

This year Maddie started 5th grade. Like Luke, she is also returning to the same school that she has attended for several years.  There was no anxiety (or complaining) about the start of the new school year. In fact, I think that both kids were excited to start the new school year.

Enjoy some photos from the first day!

Maddie and Luke are ready for their first day of school

Luke shows off his new backpack

Maddie proudly displays her blobfish shirt

Luke with his new teacher

Luke with his friend Cooper who lives in the neighborhood

Luke finds the Lego collection in his new classroom

Maddie welcomes two friends to the school

Maddie and her bestie

Maddie with her new teacher

CA Vacation Summer 2015

We recently spent a wonderful week in sunny southern California.  We returned to our favorite condominium complex where we've vacationed several times in past years.  It's on the beach so of course that makes playing in the sand and waves convenient.  There's a huge pool when we get tired of the beach (or just don't want to get sandy).  And everyone loves the hot tub after a long day at the theme park (this year it was Lego Land - 3 days!).  Angela loved this particular condo unit, especially falling asleep each night with the sound of crashing waves lulling her to sleep each night!

View from the condo balcony... I can almost hear the waves

Beach view from condo looking into tropical courtyard

Condo pool area with beach in background on far left

We loved or lodging accommodations and amenities, but we didn't spend much time inside.  We had fun in the sunny (but not hot) California summer weather.  Beach, pool and three days at Lego Land kept us busy.

Luke wasted no time getting sandy at the beach... this was about 20 minutes after we arrived

Yep... soak it in... total cuteness

Maddie catches a wave on her boogie board

Luke finds the perfect place for a sand castle

Arriving at Lego Land on Luke's birthday

Maddie pilots her Lego plane

If Luke drives a real car like he did this Lego car.. we're in big trouble

Big sister waits in line with little brother

The wait is over... weeeee!

Maddie in Lego Mini Land... notice Cafe Du Monde and the French Market in the background

Kids and Mom ride the Bionicle Blaster

It's not the most exciting ride, but the line was short

Beetle Bounce always gets a smile, unless you're Angela in which case you cry

Mom and Maddie waiting for Dragon Coaster

Some say people in California are so fake... I couldn't agree more!

Luke performs the one-hand wave while still controlling our helicopter

These horses are very well trained

Not to be outdone, Maddie shows her horse riding abilities

We had to get a photo with Emmet... Everything is awesome!

The sign is good advice for plastic and real sharks

Fun in the sun and a new hat too

Maddie models her new Unikitty nightgown

While on vacation, we celebrated Luke's 5th birthday.  He had a party with friends a few weeks before his actual birthday (see blog post here), but of course we had a celebration on his actual birthday.  After a day at Lego Land, Mom and Maddie quickly set up the party while Dad and Luke took "the long way" back to the condo after parking the car (and Dad distracted him for few extra minutes).  Luke's eyes lit up when he walked in and saw the presents, balloons and cake on the kitchen table.

Dad, kids and Minion eagerly await blowing out candles

Luke excitedly opens a birthday gift

Of course... Legos for your birthday after a day at Lego Land

Luke gets so excited when opening his gifts... I love his enthusiasm

Jake's Never Sea Mini Sub is a big hit

The fist of several hours playing with Legos... not sure who loves this more, Dad or Luke?