Mixed-Up Songs

by Lorna

I took Reed to preschool this morning. Tim is usually the taker and the pickup person, but he had a faculty meeting this morning, so tag, I was it. We got in the car and are driving to the school and Reed started singing in the backseat. We have one of those books full of nursery songs that has buttons you push for the music. We read (sing) it sometimes at night. So he starts singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and does a very nice job of it. Sings two verses of it and everything. Then, he sings the B-I-N-G-O song. This is Reed's version:

There was a farmer had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
R-S-L-U-Z, R-S-L-U-Z, R-S-L-U-Z
And Bingo was his name-o!


On another note, at dinner this evening, we were all discussing the upcoming season of Survivor -- we are Survivor junkies -- and talking about the fact that they apparently have decided to divide the tribes early on by race and how controversial that is likely to be. I said, "They're dividing them into four tribes by race -- blacks, whites, Asians and..." Reed piped up and said, "Aliens!"

Would that be considered another race?

Busy Frizzies

by Lorna

Today's title comes from a picture book that Lane had when he was a toddler. It was actually called "Silly Monsters," but there were busy frizzies in it. To this day, Tim & I can both recite that book by heart because we read it soooooo many times. We also frequently use the phrase to describe us and our lives.

Saturday was a "busy frizzies" day. We got up at 6:45 am to get ready as we had to have Maren at a local high school by 8:30 am for Cheer/Football Jamboree. Maren cheers for our local Pop Warner league in a competition division and this was the kickoff league fundraiser for the season. "Kickoff" meaning the FIRST big fundraiser because it certainly won't be the last!

They had team and individual pictures taken in uniform. Here's a photo of her team! Maren is in the 3rd row, far left side in uniform.

The Jamboree is like a big fair with all sorts of booths, bouncing structures, etc. and each activity costs a certain number of tickets. Maren's team's booth was a Hair Salon. This consisted of seating your "customer" and spraying their hair with up to three colors of colored hair spray. Tim was the first one to work the booth for our team and aesthetics being his thing, he did a great job! Here's a pic of a finished product. Tim did not do this child's hair; he's the headless guy in the background.

Then Maren's team cheered for their football players at a scrimmage and we called it a day. Well, we called it a day at THAT event. There was more to come.

Saturday evening was my office's summer picnic which for the last several years has taken place on a party boat. We rent one of those double-decker party boats with a waterslide, the captain takes us out on the lake and we eat, drink, swim and generally have a great time. Our kids look forward to it all year.

The above photo is of Reed driving the boat with Maren and the Captain looking on. Captain John actually did let Reed drive the boat for a minute or so. Hope his boss isn't reading this! He went to go get something from the front of the boat, left Reed at the wheel and said, "See that boat dock over there? Don't hit it." Hey, he's only four, but you gotta start driving sometime!

Birthday Festivities

by Lorna

Well, it was my birthday yesterday. I'm now 39 years old. No, really, I'm 39....not making it up. Now whether I remain 39 for several years remains to be seen, but for now, I'm really 39. At least I'm not 40, like someone near and dear to my heart. I'm sure I'll pay for that comment at some point!

It was a great birthday! I received a card and gift from Tim when I woke up. Everyone went on their way to school, work, etc. It was a Friday AND it was payday, so that was even better! At work, I had lunch purchased for me and had a German Chocolate pie from Marie Callender's (my choice). Yummy. Then Tim and the kids and I went to dinner at Hyde Park Bar & Grill last night. They have the best french fries ever!
All in all, a good day.

Home Again!

by Lorna

Reed came home again yesterday after having been gone to his grandparents' house for two weeks. Earlier in the summer, he'd been away for three weeks with them while Tim was in Japan, but his sister was with him then, so he was fine with it. This time...not so much. This is the first time he has ever been away from us without anyone from his immediate family with him. He went to a half-day Sea Squirts camp at the Aquarium with his cousin for the first week. The second week, there were no major events planned and more time, I guess, to think about how he wanted to come home. The first couple of times we called him, he was whiny and I could tell he was a little tentative about the whole thing. Around the third time, he was just out-and-out crying on the phone, which of course made ME cry, too, but I couldn't let him know. I stayed upbeat and told him I'd see him soon. So he and his entourage of cousins, grandparents and an aunt brought him home yesterday and we were all happy to see him!

One of the cousins that came along for the ride was my new four-week old nephew, Marshall. He's a keeper! Here's a picture of him as he snoozed in my lap.


Tomorrow is Tim's first day back to school with students and therefore, is Reed's first day back to school, too. This year he is a Marmoset in the Pre-K classroom. He's excited about it, but I'm sure it's going to be a little difficult to get back into the firm bedtime and routine that school always brings.

Introductions

by Lorna

This is the story (and daily happenings) of a man, a woman, three kids and a dog. We have given in to modern technology (and a little peer pressure) and created a blog as a way of documenting all those little things we won't remember when we're 80. When we're 80, we might not care anymore, but our kids and grandkids will. It also gives family members an avenue in order to keep up with what's going on in the Lowke house! Of course, posting to the blog will just add one more thing to our ongoing "To Do" list, but hey, it'll be fun.

Here are the main players:

Tim (who recently turned the big 4-0!)


Lorna (who has NOT yet turned 40 and won't for awhile)

Lane (age 14)


Maren (age 11)

Reed (age 4)

and.....Maisie!

There'll be more to come later!