Taking it back.

Like many people, before I had kids I knew everything in the world about raising them. My children were not going to be like those other people's children because I was going to parent them correctly. My kids would never throw a fit in a grocery store, scream in a restaurant, get in trouble in school, be socially awkward, or wear matching outfits.

I mean seriously...matching outfits? That is just gross.

Now that I have kids I realize that my kids are going to be those kids. They are going to scream, throw fits, get in trouble, say the most non-politically correct thing in any situation, and know the principal by name. It could be because I am one of the world's worst parents. My ego and I prefer to think that it is because parenting is a lot harder than it looks and our children have just the right gene combination to make them ridiculously stubborn and ornery.

I had, however, managed to keep that final shred of dignity by never matching my children. I decided to throw the towel in on that one too. I figured that putting my daughters in matching clothes could actually be so gross that it starts to be cute again.

I mean...come on...that is freaking adorable. You can bet your last dollar that if they had cupcake pajamas in my size that there would be three matching girls in this picture and not two. 

This is me. Embracing the crazy...and the cute. 

High Flying

Once upon a time a little girl was born in Atchison. She was born in her Grandparent's home and lived there with her family until she was nearly a teenager. From all accounts, this little girl was a tom boy who enjoyed sledding down Atchison's many hills, collecting bugs with her sister, and she dreamed of flying. Amelia Earhart is Atchison's dearest daughter and each year they hold a celebration in her honor. 

Despite the 102 degree weather, we, like many residents, braved the heat to hit the festival early on Saturday morning. There were singers, crafts, kid's crafts, and games. 

The real event, however, was that night. Even though Ben and the girls stayed home, Connor and I braved the heat yet again to head down to the Missouri River for some high flying fun and some pretty amazing fireworks. 

 

 Connor avoided the heat by ducking down into the shade of his chair. Ah to be that small, I avoided the heat by....well....waiting until we were in the shade. 

A couple of hours before the fireworks there was an airshow. There were a couple of different types of planes, but I thought this one was really neat. 

 You can't really tell, but there is a guy standing on top of this plane that also walked on the wings of the plane later in the show. No cables, no ropes, just plain crazy. 

Once it got dark Connor struck the same pose as earlier, but used my Kindle Fire so he could see to play games. 

 These were the first couple of fireworks, after this, I just put the camera down and enjoyed the show. 

The fireworks were completely amazing. I don't think that I've ever seen such an amazing display of fireworks in my life. Connor is really hoping that Ben has a call near Atchison this time of year (he would prefer Topeka because he loves his grandparents) or haven't left for our call yet so that we can come back and see the show again. 

A time to mourn.

I didn't cry when we left Fort Wayne. I didn't have to. The person who I was going to miss the most was coming to visit me in Kansas. I knew that I only had a few short weeks to go before I would see her again. It made it seem like we were just vacationing away from there. 

Lynne came to visit us on Saturday and today she left. Today I cried. Today it really felt like I had left Fort Wayne...or more that Fort Wayne had left me. 

I knew that Lynne couldn't stay forever, and I knew that I would hate it when she left. But knowing you are going to hate something doesn't make it any easier. 

I'll start my countdown to May. That is when I will find out what life has in store for me. That is when I'll find out where Ben will receive his call. And....that is when I'll get to see Lynne again. 

The Row House

When you've been married for nine years, I feel like you've been married long enough to get to really celebrate your anniversary. And when I say "really celebrate" I actually mean eat an expensive and delicious meal out together. Which is exactly what Ben and I did.

We went to a little hidden gem in Topeka called the RowHouse. It is the kind of place where you have to make a reservation. The kind of place where the lady that takes your reservation says "Your anniversary? I have the perfect little romantic corner for you two!" The kind of place that Ben and I can only really find time, money, and a babysitter for about once every four or five years.

The dinner was delicious. Here was the menu:

• Salad:  Strawberries, Mixed Greens, Feta, Pecans, Poppyseed Vinaigrette
• Soup:  Tomato Dill 
• Vegetarian Entree:  Quinoa Pilaf with Roasted Red Peppers and Parmesan, Lemon Garlic Aioli, Arugula Salad 
• Entree 2:  Mahi Mahi, Fennel and Cabbage Slaw, Calico Beans 
• Entree 3:  Sliced Beef Tenderloin, Worcestershire Vinaigrette, Sauteed Radishes and Snap Peas, Mashed Yams 
• Dessert:  Mocha Chocolate Brownies 
• Dessert:  Summer Fruit Parfait with Whipped Cream and Granola
• Dessert:  Keylime Cream Pie

In addition to a delicious dinner, we also had wonderful conversation and some much needed quiet time away from the kids.

Here's to nine more years. 

Almost a decade.

There I was, sitting in a history class, scoping out my new classmates. In walks this guy, a guy that I recognized because he was also in my chemistry class. Washburn University wasn't a huge university, but it was pretty odd to have the same student in two of my classes. He looked at me and gave me a little "that is the girl from my chemistry class" smile. Then he sat down in front of me. Over the next semester a friendship blossomed between me and this guy. We figured that if we were going to be in two classes together that we might as well be study buddies, work on group projects together, etc. Two and a half years, several dinners out, a bunch of movies, and a whole lot more classes together later, that guy asked me to marry him.

Nine years ago today, I married that guy and became Mrs. Benjamin Ockree. Over the course of these last nine years we have experienced many trials and much joy. We've owned our own home, sold that home, quit our jobs, and moved 700 miles away from our family. We've been blessed by the birth of three beautiful and wonderful children and suffered the grief of losing four children in the womb. We've given time outs, changed diapers, said good night prayers, and received good night kisses. There have been fights, tantrums, and forgiveness. 

It has been an amazing nine years and I cannot imagine my life without Ben in it. We've been so blessed and are looking forward to the next nine years and many more after that.

The Door Monkey

Sophia has this small problem. She keeps getting up at 6:00 in the morning and she is just awake. She comes out of her room and wakes up every other member of the house. In Fort Wayne we solved this problem by putting a gate up in her door frame. She would wake up in the morning and play in her room since she couldn't get out. Sometimes she would even go back to sleep.

Kansas has apparently given Sophia some sort of super strength or has just increased her resolve because now she breaks down the gate as soon as we put it up.

We tried several other solutions to this problem, all of which were unsuccessful. Then I stumble across the Door Monkey.

Check it out here.

All I can say is that I put this little guy on Sophia's door last night and this morning I slept in until 7:00 am. Is it too weird to write a thank you letter to a corporation?

Water Babies

I decided last week that it was way to hot to do continue the daily walks the kids and I had been taking. However, I still wanted them to get some sort of outside time. This sounded like the perfect excuse to get a little swimming pool. I found this one on Amazon and since it was only $16, I decided that it would be alright if it only lasted for one summer. 

 The house and trees provide the perfect amount of shade for the pool. 

My little baby is growing, this little sun hat fit her perfectly four weeks ago. Now it is way too small for her giant noggin. 

 Connor was obsessed with trying to float in the pool. At one point he got out of the pool, laid on the ground with his legs and arms stretched out, got back into the pool and exclaimed "Mom, there is less gravity in the water than there is on land." That's my little scientist. 

 After about twenty minutes, Connor was actually on the verge of turning blue. We came inside and my water babies became towel babies. 

Sophia was cold too, and sad that we couldn't play in the water anymore. 

No Gabba Gabba

For the first time Sophia wanted to watch Yo Gabba Gabba. They hadn't even made it through the opening song before she was crying hysterically "no, turn it off, I can't watch this!"

We opted for some Laurie Berkner Band instead.

Evidently a bunch of monsters dancing around isn't her thing.