Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Dos and Don'ts of Traveling with Toddlers

This past weekend my sister and I, without full disclosure, made the decision to road trip back to Orleans with three toddlers.  We both agreed that, if the weather was going to be enjoyable, it would be fun to take the little ones to the Pork Days Parade.  The decision was also supported by the fact that Papa was picking corn and the kids would be able to go for a combine ride.  My brother-in-law was busy and could not join his family on the trip, so Kelly and I decided it would make the most sense to ride together in one car.  What WERE we thinking?

DO plan to feed the children before you leave at 6:00 pm.

DON'T lock your keys in your car and make your husband load up the kids during supper to bring you a spare set.

DO call your sister to tell her that you will pick her up around 6:30 instead of 6:00 like you originally planned.

DON'T place three car seats in reaching/pestering distance from one another.


DO attempt to take the interstate, which is the fasted route to your destination.

DON'T get detoured off of the interstate, due to an accident.

DO laugh out loud at the hilarious conversation between two three-year-olds.  Then laugh even more when they get upset and say, "It's not funny!"

DON'T take a secondary route that has one of two lanes closed for construction.

DON'T stop for gas when one of the three children has finally fallen asleep.  They WILL wake up no matter how quietly you attempt to take off your seat belt or shut your door.

DON'T pack anything a child may want in the back of the car where you are unable to reach it during travel. (I.e. favorite blankie for sleeping)

DON'T get detoured off of the secondary route onto a gravel road behind a semi-truck, due to construction.

DO praise the Lord that all three, sleeping children were moved from the car to their respective beds at grandma's without waking.

DO soak up the adorable moments when the children are actually lovin' on each other.




DO let the kiddos have as much popcorn as they want while waiting for the parade to begin.


DO bring sacks for the candy they will collect.

DON'T let Papa teach them to be aggressive and knock down other children in order to get the candy first.




DO enjoy a beautiful afternoon in Grandma's yard.




See the butterfly?

DO take an adorable Nebraska picture while waiting for Papa to get back to the end of the field.


Money, money, money!

DON'T let Papa drop the kids from the top of the combine ladder.



DO be amazed by cousin Conner's HUGE pumpkins...


...specifically the one that is growing 20 feet up in the evergreen tree!


DO take blackmail photos of the girls being silly together in Grandma's infamous, BLUE bathtub.


DO make a complete mess of Grandma and Papa's house and look so incredibly adorable they could never reprimand you.


DO offer to be the the driver, on the way home, so that you do not have to unbuckle your seat every 15 minutes to pick up a toy/blankie/cup/snack/binky/etc.

DO be thankful you all made it back home safely and are finally able to get out of the noisy, tight quarters of the jail cell... I mean car.

DO invest in a DVD player for the next road trip that will most likely be a very long time from now.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Sunken Gardens

I took Jentry to the Sunken Gardens for the first time this week.  The Sunken Gardens is 1.5 acres located in the middle of Lincoln and features an annual floral display that consists of over 30,000 individual annual plants which are redesigned to a different theme each year.  The theme for 2011 is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 

In my mind I thought Jentry and I would take a peaceful, evening stroll through the flowers and I would capture beautiful pictures of my little angel with a colorful backdrop.  In reality, Jentry spent most of her time running away from me like a crazy person, hiding in the foliage and throwing rocks!  I guess it was a little silly of me to think a three-year-old would pose elegantly in front of the flowers while her perfectionist mother took a gazillion photos of her.  However, I was able to snap a few shots that somewhat salvaged my idealistic view of our evening adventure.



See my gum!



Who needs walking paths?


Where is that little girl's mother? She is going to fall!



Hurry up mom!


Where is that lady's (statue's) clothes?



Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Family, Flights and Football

This past weekend was absolutely packed with all kinds of fun!

Friday:  Sports Day at Daycare

Jentry finally got to wear the Husker T-shirt Nathan bought her for Christmas last year. "I'm Little but I'm Proud Go Big Red"

Jentry practicing her cheering moves.

Saturday: Air Show at Lincoln's very own Air Park

Since last year, Papa has been promising that he would take airplane, fanatic Isaac to see the Blue Angels. Saturday was finally the day!  Papa, Grandma and the Hamilton fam went early Saturday morning for an entire day of aviation amusement.  Nathan, Jentry and I did not think we needed quite so many hours of neck straining entertainment, so we arrived after lunch.

Papa and Jentry watching the A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog) perform.

After just a few hours, Jentry could not stand the excitement!  She fell asleep on Grandma's lap.

Anna, our little knee biter (according to Nathan), had fun running around and attempting to escape in the crowd.


Isaac sat in amazement on Grandma Hamilton's lap.

Saturday Evening: Game Time

Papa, Grandma, Nathan and I went to Memorial Stadium to watch the Huskers play while my very gracious sister and brother-in-law watched all of the kiddos at my house.  I don't think Chad was too excited about the scenario; however my cable package provides the Big Ten Network, which Chad does not have, so he unwillingly agreed.  All three children were bathed and out cold on the floor of my living room when we finally arrived home.  Nathan said it looked like a war zone, but I thought it looked wonderful!  There is just nothing better than quiet, sleeping children.

Sunday: Family Fun... minus a meltdown

For lunch we grilled at the Hamilton's and the cousins enjoyed another day of "hard at it" play. By the time my parents were ready to head home, Jentry was beyond tired and was beginning to be quite naughty.  Sure enough, she had a full blown meltdown for all to see.  After a screaming ride home and several minutes in "think time,"  Jentry finally gave in and quieted long enough to come out of her room.  I think she only saw the first five minutes of the TV show "Team Umizoomi" and she was out for a much needed nap. 

Sunday Evening: Picnic supper and a troll around Holmes Lake

Thanks to my sister for planting the wonderful idea in my head, Jentry and I spent the evening at the park beside Holmes Lake, here in Lincoln.  It is actually not that far from our house.  We grabbed some sandwiches for a quick and easy supper.  I explained to Jentry that we could just eat our supper outside by the lake.  Being the smart girl that she is, she quickly said "but we will have to find a table and chairs."  After supper on a picnic table,  Jentry played on the playground while I sat and watched.  Finally I was one of those mothers that I have been envying for three years.  You know, the one that gets to sit back and read a book while her child entertains herself for hours without getting hurt.





We had a wonderful time enjoying the beautiful September weather.  We also took a troll along the water at sunset.  Such an easy, free activity and Jentry had a blast.  I am not sure why I have not thought of going to the lake before now.  I guess it is truly the simple things in life.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Triumph in the Hamster Cage

Last night I went to get my hair cut, and I brought Jentry along.  I promised her that if she was a really good girl we could go out to eat afterwords and that she could pick the restaurant.  Of course, she wanted to go to "Old McDonald's."  After eating all of her kids meal, I allowed her to play in the kidz zone for a while.  She really wanted to go down the big, blue, twisting slide.  However, the only way to get to the top was to climb up these very tall, triangle steps.  The first step came all the way up to her chest and she said, "I can't do it mom!"  I encouraged her to at least try.  She wanted me to come help her, but it was too small for me to even attempt.  Never mind the fact that there was no way I was going to climb into that germ infested bacteria haven! 

Jentry climbed back out with a very disappointed look on her face.  Then a little girl, probably around five years of age, whisked right past us and climbed up the stairs like a monkey.  Jentry watched her every move in amazement.  When the girl come down the blue slide, Jentry couldn't take it anymore.  She had to give it another try.  The little girl very patiently showed Jentry how to climb each stair.  Jentry slowly pulled herself up with her arms, swung her leg up and rolled her body onto each step.  When they reached the top, Jentry looked down at me with the biggest smile and said, "I did it mom!"  Then they disappeared in to the tunnels.  Next thing I could see was Jentry coming out the slide.  I was so proud of her.  She had conquered what she originally thought could not be done.  All it took was a little encouragement and a little girl named Molly to show her the way.


Jentry making it to the third stair!



On the way home, our conversation went something like this:

Me: You climbed all the way to the top.  I am so proud of you Jentry Bug.
Jentry: I am not a bug!  Bugs are not Jentrys!
Me: (Trying not to laugh)  You are right, you are not a bug.
Jentry: It is not funny!
Me: (Now really trying not to laugh) I'm sorry you're right, it is not funny.   Mommy just likes to call you Jentry Bug sometimes, as a nickname.  It does not mean that you are really a bug.