"papate"?

"papate" is the mysterious, overused jargon of our toddler.  said at least 5 times daily, we're sure it must mean something!??  any guesses????
...it reminds us of kindin's toddler days- hearing "no money" over and over for a year before realizing it meant 'good morning'!

hello: family

A dear friend commented on my hello: middle america post adding something to the effect of 'and hello family'. While she was not likely criticizing my callousness, I was acutely aware of my restraint in mentioning this. Why? Well for a few reasons... first, i avoid personal and gushy content because I'm not especially personal or gushy. second, because I'm constantly aware that closer geography to one family means further geography from the other. And while further geography family are especially understanding folks, they are the audience of this blog. And third, because the hello: middle america was a sarcastic post not suitable for expressing the real joy i feel for being closer to family.  and indeed our hearts are FULL of gratitude indeed so it is time to say hello: family!

hello: family who has made this move almost effortless.
hello: family whose support has preserved my sanity.
hello: family who are instant friends. 
hello: family who houses us
hello: family who drove hundreds of miles for us
hello: family who babysit for us
hello: family who unpacked our truck in 3 digit heat
hello: family who welcome our mayhem in their lives

we are absolutely loving being close to family.  i am happy to revisit my sibling relationships.  i am enjoying mom-daughter time without uncertain goodbyes.  it is fun to see dalia's instant familiarity with grandpa.  but i feel the most excitement when seeing my kids establishing friendships with their cousins:  the other day when arriving home (aka my brother's home), charlie ran out to meet them.  today, kindin and luke schemed to buy kindin a fish and board it in luke's tank.  and abbey, kyler and paige are all matched perfectly for stover kids by age and sex and make for great companions.
  


hello: family!

faraway land update #2

the kids are mourning the loss of a dirt yard.  in an effort to keep them from picking and digging in my brother's birch landscaping, dad began teaching them to climb trees.  it is an entirely new sport for them! 

 

a faraway land update

stover mom went to get a haircut and while gone, stover kids and dad played outside.  it wasn't long before stover boy insisted, 'i hear mom's haircut.'  dad said, 'what do you hear?'  stover boy insisted again, 'i hear mom's haircut!  can you hear it buzz, zzz, buzzz?'  stover dad quickly realized that jack was referring to the neighbor's lawnmower! 

running in the rain

(refer here http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5067372393246693167#editor/target=post;postID=531793010803105054 for a similar story)

hello: middle America

hello: 84% humidity (there are still twice daily showers!)
hello: grass (the kids primary complaint is that they 'miss the dirt')
hello: beds with more than one blanket (jack referred to the amount of bedding as 'silly'.)
hello: quarter-sized bum inflammation from bug of unknown origin
hello: overly pronounced vowel sounds
hello: weathered, cracked roads
hello: blue water towers
hello: cloud-filled sky (Kindin: 'how can we see clouds on earth if they are in space?')
hello: menus with 'pop' vs. drink/ soda
hello: basements
hello: squirrels and bunnies
hello: 'christmas trees' as curb appeal
hello: two-man dish duty (an air dry won't substitute for a towel)
hello: relaxing standards of home security
hello: casual work attire
hello: gas stations universally equipped with carwashes
hello: 8:57 sunset time
hello: rolling hills (the car is a rollercoaster simulator)
hello: unorganized park gatherings of stay at home moms

a little HERE and a little THERE

our relocation has been a little HERE and a little THERE.  we've worked a little HERE and played a little THERE.

a little HERE updates include: we've made it to somewhere in middle america! kindin's eardrum burst on the flight but the little sweetheart knew to keep her cool for her frazzled mom.  dave (having to deal with much more frazzlement) is happy to be out of the moving truck after 2 long days of driving.  we have already signed a contract for a house set to close right before school starts!  in the meantime, we're living out of suitcases and floating between 2 homes (both with gracious hosts and hostesses)!  dave has started his new job at hayneedle.  next on the list is getting cell phones that will work in these parts.

a little THERE updates include: dad was gifted a flight instruction and was able to have control at the wheel (or rutter or whatever they call it on a plane). 

we spent the fourth on the lake with family and enjoyed red, white and blue fancies in the country night air. 

we also headed up to shakopee for a fun, family reunion at valleyfair (this time sans barf)!

the loveliest shoes of all

once upon a time the family stover left in a hurry- accidentally leaving cinderella shoeless.  the princess was going to be away from home all day visiting relatives from yonder; therefore, it was imperative that there be a stop at a magical palace named target.  once inside, these bedazzled shoes were the perfect cuteness, size, and cost for her toddler feet.  the beloved omi agreed that these were indeed the loveliest shoes of all and treated her.  little cinderella danced and giggled all day in her new shoes.  and now lives happily ever after with daily compliments about her feet gems.