September 27, 2008
While in LA, Susan and Helen gave us a really cool little video recorder called a Flip, with the agreement that we would take movies of the boys and publish them. So here we go. In this clip, the boys are ready for bed, and Luke has been dancing around the house - the "Lukey Dance." Jack is excited, and no one is really wearing their "listening ears." Welcome to our madness...take a look.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
It’s like coming home from college!
August 29, 2008
When John, Jack and I moved in with Susan, Helen and Katie Love-Cooksey in May of 2007, we had no idea just how much like family we would become. It wasn’t the first time we had shared a roof with them – in 1998, when we remodeled our house, we moved in for 6 weeks. That was pre-kids, but we did have two dogs which weighed more than both children at this point, for what it’s worth. So, in 2007 when we decided to remodel our bathrooms, we knew exactly where to turn.
Of course, I was 8 months pregnant when we moved in, and I was four months post-birth when we moved out. Yes, we left for the hospital and returned “home” with newborn in tow to the Love-Cooksey Casa - we really took the Godmother experience to a new level! Amazingly, it all seemed to work out just fine…their living room became functional as a nursery, complete with breast-pump hookup and changing station on top of the sofa table. John cooked many a meal, and the refrigerator occasionally became overrun with small bottles of breast milk…everywhere.
Susan and Helen took it all in stride, completely understanding and tolerant of my hormonal mood swings, the baby cries and my pump supplies scattered about the countertops. Helen bonded with Luke and was happy to hold him and feed him when I needed a break.
Meanwhile, Jack was having a heyday with Susan. Everyday was full of bear hunts, rocket ship trips and trains. On the day Luke was born, Susan took Jack on a special hike to a cave, while Helen headed to the hospital with us. It was quite wonderful and we were so grateful.
We decided there really was something to “it takes a village to raise a child” and the multi-generational home. There’s also something to living with two doctors when having a baby, especially when one is a breast specialist!
When I was in LA in late August, I stayed with the Love-Cookseys, and it was just like coming home from college. Our home away from home. How wonderful it is to have friends like this – a gift of Grace.
We miss you guys and love you!
When John, Jack and I moved in with Susan, Helen and Katie Love-Cooksey in May of 2007, we had no idea just how much like family we would become. It wasn’t the first time we had shared a roof with them – in 1998, when we remodeled our house, we moved in for 6 weeks. That was pre-kids, but we did have two dogs which weighed more than both children at this point, for what it’s worth. So, in 2007 when we decided to remodel our bathrooms, we knew exactly where to turn.
Of course, I was 8 months pregnant when we moved in, and I was four months post-birth when we moved out. Yes, we left for the hospital and returned “home” with newborn in tow to the Love-Cooksey Casa - we really took the Godmother experience to a new level! Amazingly, it all seemed to work out just fine…their living room became functional as a nursery, complete with breast-pump hookup and changing station on top of the sofa table. John cooked many a meal, and the refrigerator occasionally became overrun with small bottles of breast milk…everywhere.
Susan and Helen took it all in stride, completely understanding and tolerant of my hormonal mood swings, the baby cries and my pump supplies scattered about the countertops. Helen bonded with Luke and was happy to hold him and feed him when I needed a break.
Meanwhile, Jack was having a heyday with Susan. Everyday was full of bear hunts, rocket ship trips and trains. On the day Luke was born, Susan took Jack on a special hike to a cave, while Helen headed to the hospital with us. It was quite wonderful and we were so grateful.
We decided there really was something to “it takes a village to raise a child” and the multi-generational home. There’s also something to living with two doctors when having a baby, especially when one is a breast specialist!
When I was in LA in late August, I stayed with the Love-Cookseys, and it was just like coming home from college. Our home away from home. How wonderful it is to have friends like this – a gift of Grace.
We miss you guys and love you!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The Ehlers
August 15, 2008
We have been blessed with some really good friends…folks who have listened to us through good times and bad, who have cared for our dogs, cats, kids and relatives, and have even let us live with them for months on end. We are, truly, blessed. So, when we went to LA in August, we were pretty excited to catch up with some true friends, the Ehlers – Craig, Jackie, Jeffrey and Parker.
We’ve known the Ehlers for years, through St. Matthew’s. Parker is our Godson, and the Ehlers are Jack and Luke’s Godparents. Suffice it to say we are good friends. Jack was so excited to get to stay with Parker in LA – and play in Parker’s “Fun Zone.” I was so excited to go for a challenging walk every day with Jackie while solving the problems of the world. John and Craig were separated at birth, so they were just happy to see each other. And Luke? He found a new friend in Jeffery, who became a really great “big brother” and helper when Luke was around.
We had a great time, full of retail therapy, movies, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, but the highlight? My powdered white donut birthday tower. When I woke up on my birthday, Jackie had engineered the best thing I’d seen in months – a tower made from my favorite Donettes. Man, I love those things!
And I should also add that Jackie and Craig hosted an incredible surprise party for me that John conjured up while I wasn’t looking. (Thanks guys!!)
Here are some pictures of our stay, but the really funny part? This video (below) of the boys - but let me highlight a couple of things…
...the video starts with Jack trying to push Parker off the bean bag with his backside…an event that is completely lost on John who is encouraging Jack to smile for the camera, completely oblivious to the fact that Parker is now on the floor. Then, Parker turns into Storm Trooper, and when Luke stands up, he looks like he’s had a few too many!! At the end, you can hear Jack from the other room complaining about Parker being noisy - talk about the pot calling the kettle black! It’s classic. Hope you enjoy it. (and will someone please leave me some comments about whether you can get this video to work? It's the first time I've tried it - just click on the "Comments" word below)
Jackie and Craig, thanks again for all the hospitality. We hope to see you in Germany sometime soon…much love!
We have been blessed with some really good friends…folks who have listened to us through good times and bad, who have cared for our dogs, cats, kids and relatives, and have even let us live with them for months on end. We are, truly, blessed. So, when we went to LA in August, we were pretty excited to catch up with some true friends, the Ehlers – Craig, Jackie, Jeffrey and Parker.
We’ve known the Ehlers for years, through St. Matthew’s. Parker is our Godson, and the Ehlers are Jack and Luke’s Godparents. Suffice it to say we are good friends. Jack was so excited to get to stay with Parker in LA – and play in Parker’s “Fun Zone.” I was so excited to go for a challenging walk every day with Jackie while solving the problems of the world. John and Craig were separated at birth, so they were just happy to see each other. And Luke? He found a new friend in Jeffery, who became a really great “big brother” and helper when Luke was around.
We had a great time, full of retail therapy, movies, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, but the highlight? My powdered white donut birthday tower. When I woke up on my birthday, Jackie had engineered the best thing I’d seen in months – a tower made from my favorite Donettes. Man, I love those things!
And I should also add that Jackie and Craig hosted an incredible surprise party for me that John conjured up while I wasn’t looking. (Thanks guys!!)
Here are some pictures of our stay, but the really funny part? This video (below) of the boys - but let me highlight a couple of things…
...the video starts with Jack trying to push Parker off the bean bag with his backside…an event that is completely lost on John who is encouraging Jack to smile for the camera, completely oblivious to the fact that Parker is now on the floor. Then, Parker turns into Storm Trooper, and when Luke stands up, he looks like he’s had a few too many!! At the end, you can hear Jack from the other room complaining about Parker being noisy - talk about the pot calling the kettle black! It’s classic. Hope you enjoy it. (and will someone please leave me some comments about whether you can get this video to work? It's the first time I've tried it - just click on the "Comments" word below)
Jackie and Craig, thanks again for all the hospitality. We hope to see you in Germany sometime soon…much love!
Jack’s First FIS Fuβball game!
September 13, 2008
Saturday was Jack’s first day of fuβball (pronounced "foosball") at Frankfurt International School (FIS), and guess who the assistant coach is...perhaps you recognize those sexy legs in the picture above? The "head coach" is a woman – Erika - and she's already sent out an email with a long list of drills for next Saturday. I'm expecting a winning season!
Jack is on the “Red Team,” comprised of about seven Primary (Kindergarten) and Pre-primary (Preschool II) kids, most of whom go to FIS, but not all. The FIS facility is quite beautiful, with multiple fuβball fields. I tried to capture it on film, but the picture doesn’t do it justice.
We were very curious to see how the practice would go – Jack hasn't shown tremendous aptitude for organized sports...remember the YMCA swim lessons in 2007 from which he was requested to withdraw because screamed, cried and disrupted the class? Or perhaps you recall the YMCA basketball team John coached where Jack’s idea of fun was to run down the court and roll on the floor. He had no idea where the ball was at any point, and frankly didn’t care. He also enjoyed tickling the other players and "close talking." (Is anyone wondering how happy the Y was to see us leave the country?! uh huh!!) Then there were soccer lessons with most of his St. Matthew's class that we attended once – no amount of encouragement could convince him playing soccer with his friends was better than hanging onto my leg.
So, imagine our surprise when Jack not only participated, but actually volunteered to be the first player to do all the exercises! (Of course, there was that initial moment when Coach Erika told him to dribble the ball and he picked it up and started to bounce it on the ground. The parents all hooted!) But wow - it was a different Jack out there on the field yesterday. We were so proud!
It was a chilly afternoon, though Jack and John were quite warm from running around. Luke slept through the whole game, all nice and warm.
Me? I shivered on the sideline talking to two moms – Beatrice from Paris and Reshma from California who agreed with me that it was cold.
John thinks I’m a wimp about the weather…and he’s right – I am.
In closing, love and happy birthday wishes to the boys’ Godmother, Jackie!!!
Saturday was Jack’s first day of fuβball (pronounced "foosball") at Frankfurt International School (FIS), and guess who the assistant coach is...perhaps you recognize those sexy legs in the picture above? The "head coach" is a woman – Erika - and she's already sent out an email with a long list of drills for next Saturday. I'm expecting a winning season!
Jack is on the “Red Team,” comprised of about seven Primary (Kindergarten) and Pre-primary (Preschool II) kids, most of whom go to FIS, but not all. The FIS facility is quite beautiful, with multiple fuβball fields. I tried to capture it on film, but the picture doesn’t do it justice.
We were very curious to see how the practice would go – Jack hasn't shown tremendous aptitude for organized sports...remember the YMCA swim lessons in 2007 from which he was requested to withdraw because screamed, cried and disrupted the class? Or perhaps you recall the YMCA basketball team John coached where Jack’s idea of fun was to run down the court and roll on the floor. He had no idea where the ball was at any point, and frankly didn’t care. He also enjoyed tickling the other players and "close talking." (Is anyone wondering how happy the Y was to see us leave the country?! uh huh!!) Then there were soccer lessons with most of his St. Matthew's class that we attended once – no amount of encouragement could convince him playing soccer with his friends was better than hanging onto my leg.
So, imagine our surprise when Jack not only participated, but actually volunteered to be the first player to do all the exercises! (Of course, there was that initial moment when Coach Erika told him to dribble the ball and he picked it up and started to bounce it on the ground. The parents all hooted!) But wow - it was a different Jack out there on the field yesterday. We were so proud!
It was a chilly afternoon, though Jack and John were quite warm from running around. Luke slept through the whole game, all nice and warm.
Me? I shivered on the sideline talking to two moms – Beatrice from Paris and Reshma from California who agreed with me that it was cold.
John thinks I’m a wimp about the weather…and he’s right – I am.
In closing, love and happy birthday wishes to the boys’ Godmother, Jackie!!!
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