What we've been up to...

No, we haven't fallen off the face of the earth. We're still around and busy as ever. Here are a few highlights of what we've been up to... (in reverse chronological order)

... school started this past Tuesday at RCS. Matt began his 6th year teaching in Redlands! It's crazy to believe he's been there for that long already. Of lesser known news, I began my first year at RCS as a school counselor. I'm working part time (15 hours/week) which is practically perfect in every way, allowing me to get out of the house, use my new masters degree, and still permit me to be home with Luke in the afternoons and two days per week. Despite the fact that the first week of school was graced with temperatures well above the 100 degree mark, we had a great first few days and are excited about this school year.

... Jung returned to live with us this school year. He arrived on August 18th. It was fun to pick him up at school and feel like little time had past since we dropped him off at the airport to head back to Korea. We had fun reminiscing about last year- how awkward it was for the first few days. Not so this year. It's been good to have him back.

(picture from last year - Luke crawled into Jung's lap to watch a pre-world cup game)

... We reorganized, cleaned, purged, repurposed, and rearranged nearly every room and cupboard in our house in an attempt to get prepared for our students to arrive (originally we had signed on to host 2 students again this year but later learned that one of the students would be living with his mom instead - can't really fight that one. ) It felt eerily similar to nesting while pregnant. We ended up moving Luke and all his furniture into the downstairs bedroom. This would allow our students to basically have an entire 'wing' to themselves. Matt and I quickly realized how out of shape we were (are) while heaving dressers, beds, mattresses, etc. up and down the stairs. We got Luke settled in downstairs and used to his 'new room' just in time to get an email letting us know that one of the students would not be living with us... so we got another work out heaving all the furniture around again and moving Luke back to his original room. whew.

... in the midst of all the 'nesting' / preparing for our students arrival I was bit by the redecorating bug. I have been disgusted with our kitchen chairs for awhile. Last year was a bad year for the chairs. Two teenagers and a toddler = lots of stains and overall grossness. I have wanted to reupholster the chairs for awhile. One afternoon I wandered into a fabric store and found some that I fell in love with. Bada bing, Bada Boom... new chairs. I had left over fabric so I made a window valance for the kitchen window as well. Originally, I bought a different fabric that I didn't like so much. SO, I made pillows out of that and found other fabric that I recovered the pillows from our living room set with. Don't be too impressed. Martha Stewart I am not. If you look carefully at any of my projects you will find glaring errors and cut corners... just don't look that carefully. :)

Before...

...after

... we were blessed with a few weeks of absolutely beautiful weather. I'm talking high 70's/low 80's in July in Southern California! That's unheard of! We took full advantage of the cooler weather and planted new shrubs and ground cover. As of the last few days the temperatures have hit 100 degrees or higher by mid-morning which does not bode well for our poor little plants. We keep watering as often as possible but they are looking pretty sad and pathetic at the moment. We're hoping that we can at least keep the roots alive and then the plants will revive themselves once the weather cools off more. Keeping our fingers crossed.

before....

... while planning out where we were going to plant shrubs and what we wanted the end result of our patio to be, Matt got the idea to build a BBQ pad, so to speak, for his new grill (remember the grill he won at the Holland Festival last year? He felt it needed a seat of honor in our backyard). In Matt-fashion, he got his idea and moments later was digging away in the spot he planned out. :) A few trips to the Home Depot later to buy bricks and pavers and presto-change-o! New BBQ zone.

digging/prepping the spot

my bare-chested boys working so hard

the end result

... it hasn't been all work and no play around here however. We have had fun and lots of it, especially with an active, curious, and hilarious 16 month old that keeps us busy and laughing for most of each day.

Splashing in the sink

experimenting with edible play dough (Luke played... Matt ate)

Building towers

making messes on the patio

making messes out of dinner

trying out new fashions

some naked reading (who doesn't read naked, seriously?)

and wearing ourselves out.

phew. That about covers it. I think we're caught up. We'll see how long that lasts, no promises.

And now, the rest of the story...

Seeing as how we have been back home for a month now, it seems appropriate that I finally finish posting about our time in the Midwest. sheesh.

Our time in IL was filled with animal adventures. Luke hadn't been to a zoo or really been around animals much so we thought it would be a fun experience for us all. Lamb's Farm is, well, a farm with lots of lambs basically. It's not far from my parents house and offers lots of little fun things to do for young kids- a petting zoo, train ride, playground, pet store with puppies, etc. It was a perfect little outing for an afternoon.

The boys' first encounter with a miniature pony.

There was an old tractor that Luke could climb on. He had a blast.

Not sure who had more fun, Luke or Grannie.

Checking out all the lambs and goats from a distance.

The train ride.

Such excitement!

The excitement lasted about half way through the ride, then the "I want to get down and run" desire kicked in. Matt had to be the human seat belt for a very strong, squirmy little boy. Not the easiest job to say the least.

Off to meet the goats and sheep up close and personal

Luke had fun brushing the sheep.

Grannie, Matt and I had fun trying to keep Luke from eating the bristles of the brush.

A few days after conquering Lamb's Farm we decided we were prepared for what Brookfield Zoo had to offer. Jim and Aaron had to work but the rest of us packed up lunches, snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, and cameras and decided to brave the heat and humidity to explore the zoo. We were so glad we did. It was a great time!

At the entrance to the zoo.

Can you tell it's the beginning of the day - we aren't all wiped out and sweaty yet. :)

Luke wasn't too happy about being confined to the stroller or being carried or forced to hold someone's hand. He's quite the independent child let me tell you. I'm not a big fan of putting my kid on a leash, but I feel that may be the direction we're headed in!

The sea lions

Watching the polar bear dive in and swim around.

We went into the children's zoo, which was basically Lamb's Farm all over again with the various farm animals to pet and experience hands on.

He was allowed to touch the baby chick with one finger.

Watching the pigs and cows- enormous pigs and cows.

Becoming acquainted with Mr. Goat

Luke and Pops in the gorilla house.

Grannie Jannie and Micah in the gorilla house

Silly boys

We were able to celebrate Jim's birthday while we were at my parent's house.

Hugs for Uncle Jim- the best present of all.

There is this great splash park close to Erika and Aaron's house that we went to one afternoon. It totally puts the splash park in our neighborhood to shame. Luke LOVED it. We could've stayed there all day and probably would have if it didn't close at 2. What kind of pool/splash park place closes at 2pm on a summer day?!

Luke stole some kid's bucket and had a glorious time dumping water on himself until we made him give the bucket back.

Erika and Micah soaking up the rays.

Trying to climb up the slippery crab and drink the water at the same time.

Multi-tasking at it's best.

We had a fabulous time on our vacation. We got to spend some great quality time with family and friends, had a good balance of relaxing at home and getting out to do other fun things together. It was wonderful. Needless to say, we were pretty pooped at the end of it all, but it was totally worth it.

On the way to the airport

Back in CA, sleeping away as we wait to be reunited with our luggage.

Loving the umbrella stroller.

Again, we had a marvelous time. We can't wait to be together again, whenever that may be!

Uncle Jim's photo shoot

We had the best of intentions to get a family photo when we were with my family in IL. We wanted to get a good one at my cousin's wedding while we were all prettied up, then we wanted to get a picture with each individual family sporting their particular football team's gear (DeBoers- Broncos, Klingenmaiers- Packers, Thomsons- Bears)... but, alas, that didn't happen.

On our last night at my parent's house we figured it was now or never. Luke had fallen asleep in the car on the way home from dinner so he was a little out of it but that probably worked in our favor as he was content to sit still for a few minutes.

The Thomson clan

Once Luke woke up a bit he was fascinated with the camera on the tripod. Jim showed him where the button was to take a picture. Luke was delighted to be allowed to push the button and wait for the flash to go off. He and Uncle Jim must've played with the camera for about 45 minutes, no exaggeration.

See the joy on Luke's face! Maybe we have a photographer in the making...

The results of Luke's photo shoot (just a handful of the 30 or so pictures he took) :







Luke as a photographer... maybe. Jim as a model... maybe not. Thanks for the fun though!