Dreams Come True

I hesitate to write about this because its not specifically my news...but I can't resist because it is so exciting for us...and the broader implication that its never to late for your dreams to come true! My mom grew up in Chicago Illinois but her grandparents had a cottage on a lake in Red Granite Wisconsin called Pearl Lake. She visited that lake whenever she could until she was 20 years old. It became a way of life, being at the Lake, and she always loved it. They had friendsips, and first loves, swimming and skiing, long lazy days when it raining, visits to the sauna. She has always wished a return to the Lake Days. We vacationed there several times while I was growing up and we have fond memories of those visits and the lucky times when our cousins were there too. About two weeks ago my brother suggested to my mom that she could probably make this dream a reality if she wanted. She has more free time now that my papa is gone, and it has come time to think about her own retirement and what that will look like in the next several years. They set out a three year plan, and two weeks later she has closed the deal on a lake property! We are so excited about "mimi's place" on Lake Thunderhead in Unionville Missouri. It is just a hop/skip/jump for all of us. There is plenty of room for children and grandchildren. While Will is the only little one now we hope that eventually there might be siblings and cousins. I find myself fantasizing about boats and dice games, about hot dog roasts and smores. About pretending to camp in mimi's back yard. It is so exciting to see her dream come true, and it is even better that we get to be a part of it!

Adieu to summer

I can't believe its true, that summer is really over. It feels like a landmark to me though. Like Fall is a starting place, a new beginning. The pleasure of a sharp pencil and a new school year feels good. When I look back at the summer it feels incredibly long and incredibly short simultaneously. But the end of summer is always marked by Labor Day and for people who have lived in Mt. Pleasant, the annual Old Thresher's Event.

My mom lives really close to the Old Thresher's Fairground, so its easy for us to go over for just a few hours. We can walk, and avoid the parking nightmare. For us this year it was really just a great afternoon.

We arrived and went straight to the train ride where by sheer good fortune landed ourselves on the train where a robbery is staged. Will loves "bad guys" and he enjoyed the robbery immensely. I learned after a few trips on trains that the loud noise can really ruin a trip; so earlier in the summer I got Will some headphones...and they made Old Threshers far more enjoyable! I saw lots of hands over ears and tears, but not Will this year. I felt like a good mom. After the train ride and robbery, the three of us headed over to the church tent to gorge on meat loaf sandwiches and a plan for strawberry short cake. We were too full for cake. Some day we will learn, eat dessert first.

After lunch we headed over to a child's play area where Will rode a pony, twice. And, then, a tractor! He was adorable and continues to be thrilled with his new t-shirt that declares he drove a tractor at Old Threshers (a gift from his mimi). We finished the afternoon at Old Threshers with a ride on the carousel.

But the day was not over. Oh no, we picked granny up and headed to nearby New London for some ice cream. Will was a doll the entire day and promptly fell fast asleep on the return ride from New London, only to awake eventually in Ottumwa.

I didn't feel any sadness on this particular year, on this ceremonially end to summer afternoon. While it was tremendous to have time with my family, and to not have to balance work and play, there is pleasure in a new beginning.

Just as a reminder, don't forget the Polar Express train ride tickets at Old Thresher's MicMillan Park go on sale soon. In fact if you go to the above link, on October 15 there will be a mail in reservation form available for printing. If you wish to buy tickets you can mail this form in by October 28 for your tickets. November 1 you can call to make reservations. Old Thresher's boasts that their tickets for the 5 days of rides has previously sold out in 10 days. Train runs December 3,4,5, 11 and 12.

My digital scrapbook 2008-2009

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Will first year November 2007-2008

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Rich Family 2009 2010

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Friday Family Night at Blank Park Zoo

For our 11th anniversary we headed to Des Moines. We did some back to school shopping, enjoying the sales and tax free weekend. We did a little swimming in the hotel pool; and then headed over to Blank Park Zoo! Apparently, in the summer time, you can go to Blank Park Zoo on Friday evenings. They are open until 8 PM and they offer a little music and demonstrations with the animals. The night we were there happened to be the bat education night, which is sort of ironic as we absolutely HATE bats!! The weather was nice and cool and the animals were SO active! I have been to the zoo many times and have never actually seen the animals move so much! The giraffes were eating, and the lions were playing with a huge ball! Will loved it and so did we! I highly recommend Family Friday nights at Blank Park Zoo! We invested in a family pass for the Science center and zoo for the next year. They have several hundred zoos and museums that recongize the pass, so we will be heading to Omaha soon! Pictures to come!

Celebration of Life

My papa really wanted this last week to be a "celebration of life". But no matter how you slice it; it is a hard and difficult time. It is never good to say goodbye. I personally, am not good with change. I have shown my ass several times in the past seven days at times acting selfishly, at times sulking and pouting, at times irrationally angry, and always exhausted. I am tired, very tired. It is the first time that I have had to do sad without my papa. I am confident that we will move ahead and create a new normal; but for now I am just letting myself be tired. Please take a look at the video tribute shown at my papa's memorial. A labor of love my husband and I made, a tribute to a good man, a good husband, a good papa.