My Beautiful Mess

So many people have asked me about our little family vacation that I thought I’d finally get it onto my blog! This was actually our second trip to The Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas - we got to go last year with my mom, step-dad, and my brother and his family, courtesy of my mom and step-dad, and had such a great time that we take our little crew back this summer!

Though some may say the place is expensive, you have to consider what you might pay to stay in a hotel and for entrance to a waterpark for the entire family. At Great Wolf, everything is right there! All of your entertainment and food (though food prices are a little high). We took a step-up in our room selection since this was our only get-a-way this summer. The boys loved having their “own den.”

Great Wolf is open year-round since the majority of their “fun stuff” is all indoors. But during the summer, the outside pool and slides are also open. This year, Drew was tall enough to ride all but 2 slides (with an adult)!

And these are the steps that it takes to get to those slides - steps Ryan and I took over and over…and over…and over again!

But his excitement was worth it!

Not having a water-proof camera, it was difficult to take pics - most of these I took on our last day there and Cooper was off trying to become a Magi (tell ya about that in a minute) - but this was some of Cooper’s favorite things:

Floating lily-pads and animals - Coop loved climbing all over these! And don’t ask me about it, but I gave these lily pads a try - not a pretty sight!

This water fort is a blast to climb through! Plus, every 10 minutes or so, a large bucket dumps 1,000 gallons of water on top of it - and everyone in there! Drew did not like this area!

The other activity my boys loved was the MagiQuest - “a one-of-a-kind, live-action adventure game. Armed with high-tech wands, your family must solve magical challenges throughout the resort to gain powers (and points) and move to higher levels of the game.”

The quests take you all over the lodge (8 floors) so yes, this also required lots of stairs!!

This activity is an extra charge (buy the wand and pay to play) but one cool thing to note is that once you buy a wand, you can re-use it each time you come back. Cooper got one last year so all we had to pay for him was the $10 fee to re-activate it. Our entire family had so much fun solving these quests - and we saw many more parents getting involved with their kids!

Magi Drew and his wand

The biggest and most difficult task is defeating the dragon!! We talked to lots of kids and parents who had tried over and over again to defeat it so we were uncertain as to how things we go for us. As a matter of fact, when we were standing in line to give it a try, the family behind us was in line for their tenth try! But, behold, Magi Cooper DEFEATED the dragon in…how many tries??? ONE!!! And when you do, you get a special “badge” that says “I am a Quest Master at Great Wolf Lodge”. He was sooo excited!!

Defeating the Dragon

Dad pinning on his badge

We left the lodge proud, happy, and tired! Several times since we have been home, one of us has stated “I miss Great Wolf Lodge!” We highly recommend it!

A few other tips: every room has a microwave and small fridge so take food for breakfast and lunch. Then go to downtown Grapevine to eat dinner. Also, as for length of stay - we stayed 3 nights last summer and 2 nights this summer. Though room check-in is at 4pm, you can start using the water park and activities at 1pm. And though check-out is at 11am, you can use the water park  and do the activities all day! And get up and go - it is way less crowded on the slides if you get there when doors open at 9am! So chomp down some powdered sugar donuts, forgo the shower, throw on your swim suit and go!

Any other recommendations for family vacations?

Warning: This post contains an insane amount of photos!

My Cooperman turned 8 last week! I can’t believe it! Of course, I said that last year when he turned 7….and probably the year before that…and likely the year before that…

The punk had a week-long celebration! It started the weekend before his birthday because we had family in town. Nan, Grandma, Uncle Chad, Aunt Amy, and Cousins Jack & Sydney helped us celebrate at Flat Tire Burgers - very fun and very yummy! The funnest part was the s’more tray…

These boys have so much fun together…

And this girl is just so stinkin’ cute!

Then my mom, grandma, Cooper and I headed downtown to see the Lion King on stage. This was Cooper’s first experience at a big time theatrical production, and I loved sharing it with him. We both laughed, we both cried, and had an amazing time! He loved it!

On his actual birthday, our little fam met Gamma & Buddy at Incredible Pizza, which if you ask me, is not that incredible any more. But of course The Boys love it! They had a good time playing mini-golf, mini-bowling, and driving the cars - Coop is big time now and gets to drive by himself!

THEN, the weekend after his birthday, we had a party with his friends. It was a Lego-themed party at Martin Park Nature Center. Did you know they do not make Lego party supplies?? So we did our own. Cooper and his dad made the invitations with this photo of their creation…

I set up a scavenger hunt through the trails at the nature center. They had to find 13 clues along the way. Attached to each clue was a bag of Legos which we had planned to use for a building activity after the hike but we ran out of time. One reason we ran out of time was because we got a late start. Want to know why we got a late start? Because one of Cooper’s best buds tripped and split his head open! On my watch!!! He had to get 3 stitches!!! I couldn’t believe it. So after shaking off feeling like a complete schmuck, we were on our way…

Then Cooper had seen some photos online of Lego-shaped cakes people had made and wondered if we could try one! Ugh! I do not bake! But I do love my boy…just please don’t look too close at the cake!

Cooper, you are a kind, intelligent, and fun kiddo! You have the biggest heart for your family, for your friends, and for God. I am so proud of the choices you make and the example you set for others. You constantly impress people with the way you pay attention to the needs of others. Baby, I am THRILLED to be your momma. You are and will always be a constant joy! Happy #8!

Today I am 36 and a half.

Today marks 6 months that my dad has been gone.

Since April, my husband’s grandpa and my grandpa have passed away.

Grief is an interesting thing.

I have learned that no one experiences it the same. But it is something that, if it happens in your life, needs to be experienced. Some people choose to ignore it. Some people bind themselves to it. Possibly somewhere in the middle of those is best…but hard to find - or at least hard to maintain. To not let it define you - but yet it is a defining moment. And I thought I would have more to say but…

today that is all I know to say.

Miss you, Daddy.

I told my husband today that sometime I can’t believe I am actually a mom but that most times I can’t imagine NOT being a mom. My “momminess” is tied to most everything I do - the laundry, the grocery shopping, the cooking, the packing lunches, the volunteer hours at the school, the practices and games, the wii I play, where we go out to eat, what time I get to bed, what errands I will run today, how much house cleaning I will accomplish, my conversations with friends and family, the photos I take, how many hours to work, where we live so we can be in a good school district, the things I pray about, the things I search scripture for, the friends I have, the birthday party planning….all of these are tied to my role of “Mom”.

But oh-for-the-love-of-all-that-is-my-life, I would NOT ever, ever, EVER trade it. People have tried over and over to put into words the feelings that come with motherhood - but you just can’t. How do you explain why tears come to your eyes when you are just watching them play? How do you express the anxiety of them being out of your care for even a minute? How do you tell them that if you did not have them, you would not be whole?

This journey of motherhood is a gift. A gift that just keeps on giving. May I encourage all moms to not loose sight of that. Even when you are more than tired, even when you want to scratch out your eyeballs in frustration, even when you wish that you could ship them to Grandma’s house…it is all worth it, so very WORTH it.

We had an amazing service at our church this morning. It began with the older kids leading us in worship and ended with all kids, ages 3 and up, singing about how deep and wide and high is the love of Christ…and the love of moms.

But instead of a pastor giving the “message” today, it was 3 moms/grandmas who gave us the message. The things I took away from what they had to say was to not make your kids be you, let them be all that God created them to be and, from time-to-time, enter into their world (this is why I play wii!). And surround yourself with people that will pray for you and your family. Be in a ladies Bible study (something I really need to do again). God knew what kind of mom your kids needed and He picked you. So stop expecting so much from yourself. What your kids need is YOU.

So today may you say with great pride, I am a Mom. Happy Mother’s Day!

Warning: If you are squeamish or easily grossed out, back away slowly from this post. You have been warned.

In May of last year, we gave My Oldest a Leopard Gecko for his birthday (see last year’s post). I am here to tell ya that this is the greatest pet ever! She doesn’t smell, she isn’t noisy, she doesn’t make a mess, and you can leave her with a bunch of crickets in her cage and she’ll be fine while you go away on vacation! I was going to say “she doesn’t shed”, but we realized this morning that that just ain’t true! So here it comes….

We woke this morning to find Patty the Gecko shedding her skin - and we were all fascinated to watch her at work. The whole process hardly took her any time at all. We think she began by rubbing her head against the rocks in her cage….

Once the old skin was below her neck, she began to grap hold of it with her mouth and basically pull it off!

But the kind of gross part is, that as she pulled it off…she ate it!!

See, I told ya she doesn’t make messes!

Seriously though, it was pretty cool to watch! And she really is a great pet. She has been to school and was so calm while a bunch of Pre-K and 1st Grade students petted and held her. I don’t really like messin’ with the crickets though (which we buy weekly from a local pet store). However, it is fun to watch her hunt one down and munch on it. Advice we received when we were gecko shopping is to buy a one that is around 2 years old - that way, it isn’t that skiddish. We can hold Patty and not even worry that she might dart off.

So again, I highly recommend a Leopard Gecko. And Patty, your new skin is just gore-jus!

Today, unbeknownst to this guy, was “Nerd Day” at school. God love him!

I believe I have mentioned before the special bond between my two boys. If you ask them “who is your best friend”, they each will tell you “My brother is my best friend.” Of course this is an absolute blessing to me. They love on each other, look out for each other, and CONSTANTLY play together. They even have their own special language - you know, kind of like what you hear about twins having. Finishing each others’ thoughts, inside jokes - that kind of thing. Their special language, however, is in the form of hand puppets. Here, let them explain…

Meet the Puppets from Jennifer Marshall on Vimeo.

I’m sure glad that the angry puppets were finally balanced out there at the end with the Kissing and Loving puppets! Any of these puppets can appear at anytime and at any place - the car, the dinner table, going out to eat, etc. Most of the time, my husband and I have no idea what they are talking about - but whatever it is, The Boys sure think it is funny!

So anyway, there are the puppets. Welcome to my World of Weird.

So blogging has not been a big priority for me this month, obviously. Maybe it is because I haven’t felt too good for most of it (sinus stuff); maybe it is because we had a tornado come, once again, way too close to our house; maybe it is because I have been irrationally consumed with books about vampires; maybe it is the grief that can seem to sneak in when I am not looking; OR maybe it is because we have been so stinkin’ busy! Whatever it has been, today seems like the first day I can think clearly and look back at what we have been up to. Care to join me???

The month started off with Cooper’s 1st grade class hosting the school’s weekly Friday assembly. Each class gets a chance to do this throughout the year. Coop’s teacher decided to have them dress-up like what they want to be when they grow up. They are currently working on “publishing” a class book with the same theme. So here is my “National Geographic Scientist who Digs for Dinosaur Bones”….

Next came the 100th Day of School - a little later than planned due to the 3 snow/ice days we had. As soon as Drew knew he could bring something to school, he wanted to bring Dory, the 5-inch stuffed fish with which he sleeps (try finding that thing every night - let me tell ya, Dory is good at hide-n-seek!). So we made a poster with 99 Dories - and his Dory was number 100….

Cooper’s class did all kinds of cute things for 100 Day but this one really hit home with me. He made a picture of himself at 100 years old and then filled in the sentence, “When I am 100 years old, I will…..”

Don’t know if you can read that, but he put “…go to the groshe stor (grocery story).” Oh Lord, I HATE going to the grocery store now - I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to go when I was 100!

Cooper’s class also did a one-song musical performance with the music teacher this month. This also happened to be the same day the tornado came - at least all 3 of us where together in one of the “safe rooms” at the school, which I did consider safer than my entryway coat closet! (sorry for the scary eyes in the pic below! I promise it was not an evil song!)

Did I mention it is only February 16th? Because I still have more to show you…no wonder I am so tired!

In each class The Boys are in, every student gets a turn being the “special student” of the week. In Drew’s class, you are the Super Star of the Week. So home came the star which we decorated with lots of pictures - and then the whole family got to come to his class that morning to see him present his star.

The Pre-K teacher makes it even more special by having each kid in the class say something nice about the Super Star; even the teachers say something about them and then so does the child’s family. She is an incredible teacher! She and her husband also have an incredibe ministry. Check it out here and here.

And then this week, Cooper gets to be the Honeybee Helper of the week. So home comes his scrapbook page to decorate with his choice of pictures.

Not included in here is the Valentine’s Day parties in each of their classrooms, 3 trips to see the doctor for 3 separate family members, the last basketball games of the season, and a lost tooth! ALL in February! And I thought this was a short month…

Snippet #1, last Sunday:

Dad: Drew, do you want to wear this football shirt today since it is Super Bowl Sunday?
Drew: O.K. But I hope he doesn’t see his shadow.
Dad: You hope who doesn’t see his shadow?
Drew: The Super Mole.
(FYI: Monday was Groundhog Day.)

_____________________________________________

Snippet #2 - Friday morning:

Cooper: I hope we have outdoor recess again today.
Mom: What did you do at recess yesterday?
Cooper (sheepishly): uuuumm….ran around.
Mom: Chasing people?
Cooper: yes
Mom: So the boys and girls were chasing each other, huh.
Cooper: Yes…HEY, how did you KNOW that?
Mom just raises her eyebrows.
Cooper stops and thinks: I know - you were in the workroom and saw me outside!
Mom: No, I was just 7 once.
Cooper: YOU chased boys???

My youngest is his own man. Some would call him “strong-willed”…his dad and I like to say “he has fire.” From the time he came out of the womb, he has always let you know exactly where he stands…on everything. You never have to guess - you ask him a question, you better be prepared for a straight answer. This can obviously be good and bad. I’m kind of a straight-forward-kind-a-gal myself so that works for me…until it doesn’t. Until it is Halloween and he tells our neighbors as he trick-or-treats at their doors “I don’t like that kind of candy; do you have anything else?.” Just tell them “no thank you”, sweetie. Until I ask him the name of the boy sitting next to him at school and he says “That’s so-and-so. He’s not my friend; he doesn’t make good choices.” We need to show love to everyone, sweetie.

But he really is so full of love! Both of them are. Lately, Little Man has taken to giving random hugs to people he hardly knows. And I just now received my nightly “night-night kisses.” He is so in tune with others emotions; he doesn’t miss much, even if you think he isn’t listening. After we were home from Texas, after Dad’s funeral, Little Man prayed that night at dinner “…and please make a new Papa for Mimi (my dad’s wife).” He was so worried about Mimi being by herself. Just last week he told me, “Mom, I saw a star outside and thought of Papa.” Childlike love - there’s nothing like it. They are so fresh from heaven, so in tune with His love.

And then when you bundle up that little love of yours in all of his snow gear so that he can sled down the icy driveway, you see that subtle balance of a little boy and a big kid. I feel so honored to be a witness of this journey from little boy to big kid and then - oh heaven help me - beyond. Motherhood really is walking around the world wearing your heart outside your body, isn’t it. Oh how I love this boy!