Bike Wreck

I'm sure you can tell from the title what this post is about so no need for introduction.

On our short bike ride this evening, when we were about 4 houses from home, Maria took a nasty fall and landed so that the bike was on top of her and she couldn't get up. I was there within seconds - I was biking several feet behind. No one is sure how it happened, but this is by far her worst fall off of a bike to date. Even though she was caught up in the bike, her left knee took the worst of the fall. She was crying pretty hard and bleeding, and I told Sam to just bike on home, that we were OK. I calmed her down and she was able to walk her bike back to the house, but she was still alarmed by the blood - her entire knee was covered. We got her inside and cleaned up, luckily there was no gravel pieces inside the cuts. Once we got the blood out of the way, we could see that about 4 inches of her knee was cut - some places deeper than others but the entire area was at least scraped. So we got antiseptic sprayed and went to bandage it, at which point I realized that we are almost completely out of gauze pads, and band-aids won't work - it is just too big of an area. I was finally able to find enough gauze to get us through tonight, but am going to have to run to the store tomorrow morning.

Once I got her fixed up and on the couch, she complained of a stomach ache and was shaking. I assume it was from the adrenaline rush when she fell. So I gave her the puke bowl, some Sprite, and Duckies, and we cuddled for a few minutes. Once her stomach felt better and she was done shaking, then the pain started to really bother her, so I gave her some Motrin. It was approaching 9:00, and I needed her to be able to sleep. By bedtime she said it didn't hurt anymore, and we fixed her up on her little couch in her room to sleep - she didn't want to climb up to her loft.

Things had been going so smoothly since Ben's been at band camp this week. It was definitely rough without him being here to help tonight - to run out to get more gauze, to convince me that I was dressing the wound correctly (he's the one with first aid training!), and to give the second child some attention. Sam was so neglected he decided that a bump on his head from this morning was hurting and he had to get out of bed to have it iced again. Why should Maria be the only one with special attention?

Anyway, once again I am glad that I am not a full time single parent!

Favorite Thing

This afternoon we returned from my parents house where the kids and I had been staying since Sunday. We go up there every year while Ben's at band camp and its a great opportunity for the kids to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa.

Last night Mom and I both agreed that this year was a fun and easy visit. The kids are finally getting old enough that we can do lots of different activities, and Sam does not meltdown nearly as much as he used to when Ben was away. Just one little fit about his refusal to drink milk - even though that's a rule at home.

Anyway, tonight at dinner Sam was asking each of us what our favorite part about our trip was. This is something we do often, but Sam is the one who makes sure we do it every time we go somewhere. (He even asked me on the way out of the movie yesterday what my favorite part was. Difficult to answer - if anyone else out there has actually seen Space Chimps you'll understand why!)

Anyway, here were the answers to our favorite part about the trip:

Maria: I liked the bumper boats and miniature golf.
Me: I liked the bumper boats too since I have never done it before.
Sam: I liked that Wipe-Out show we watched last night. That was the best part.

Oh the money I could have saved if I had known all he had to do was stay inside and watch Reality TV! Not to mention, he doesn't seem to know that we could be watching that show here, too.

The picture is the three of us in the bumper boats - thanks to Dad for taking the great pictures!

Ice Cream Truck

We have been spending a few days in Geneva with my parents while Ben is at band camp. Last night the kids were playing outside when we heard an ice cream truck driving up the street. After I explained to them that it was an ice cream truck, they were in awe that kids can just go out their front door and buy an ice cream from a van that brings it right to you! Living in the country like we do, they had never experience this before. We had already planned to go out for ice cream later with Grandma and Grandpa, so I told them that we weren't going to be able to buy anything right then. If it comes again while we are here I'm going to let them get something - its amazing how such a simple thing can make them so happy!

Zoombezi Bay

We're getting to the part of the summer when we realize there are still several things we haven't done yet that we had promised the kids we would do before school starts. Today we were able to cross one of those things off the list by visiting the new water park at the zoo, Zoombezi Bay. It used to be Wyandot Lake, then the zoo bought it and it was closed for an overhaul last summer. Some of it is still the same, but much of it is improved.

The kids compared it with Great Wolf Lodge, since we were there over spring break, and the vote was that Zoombezi Bay was better. It was crowded, though, and Ben and the kids had to wait an hour to go down one of the large water slides. And even though they said the slide was worth the wait, after that they didn't want to go on any of the others slides. We all enjoyed the Lazy River, and the kids also liked the kid area with small slides, water works stuff, and all sorts of other things to play on. Ben and I were able to lounge in chairs while they played there, which was nice.

By late afternoon it became overcast and cool, so we were able to get the kids to agree to go home without any complaint. We have no pictures, since we were wet most of the time there was no place to store a camera!

Bad Idea

At the fair tonight, one of the kids' favorites rides was called the Musik Express (although it played no music). The ride went around in a circle, up and down a couple of hills, really fast. While waiting in line, we discovered that you had to be at least 52 inches tall to ride, or ride with an adult. Maria was tall enough, Mason and Sam were not. I was with Ben and Andy at this point since Lisa was on another ride with Lindsey. Both men "can't do circle rides." Wimps. So I rode on it with both boys, hoping I wouldn't feel too bad when it was over. Maria had to ride with other kids she didn't know, but was fine with that.

The first half of the ride was fine, even fun. Then it stops. And goes in reverse. Quickly. And it just keeps going and going and going. When I got off and all the kids said "Again, again!" I said I couldn't do it. I didn't feel too bad but was dizzy. Lisa and Lindsey were back by then, so Lisa went on it with them. Then we took them to some other rides.

Later, when each kid only had one ride worth of tickets left, we asked them what their favorite was to ride again, and of course this was the ride. I was feeling better so I said I would go. And didn't think I felt bad. But now that we are home and the kids are in bed, I'm sitting here trying to watch T.V. and the room is spinning. And the longer I sit here the worse I feel. I think I have learned my lesson. But at least the kids had fun.

Fun at fair rides

This evening we are at Union County fair and the kids are enjoying themselves on the rides. Maria, Sam, Mason and Lindsey are having a great time.
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A Musical Observation

After listening to Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music movie several times in the car yesterday, Maria commented "I can't believe how much she sound like Mary Poppins!"

Back-to-School Shopping

In years past I have always put off back to school shopping until August, after Ben's back from band camp. I just can't handle facing going back until I absolutely have to. But I have realized that waiting means that the shopping trip is rushed, stressful, crowded, and some of the stores are actually out of some stuff, or at least the selection of folder designs, etc. are pretty picked over. So this year we went early - a combination of those reasons plus going on a mini-vacation in August has made me want to get some of the back to school stuff done early.

This morning I took the kids to Target with lists in hand. Sam's list wasn't bad, but Maria's was a mile long. After a hour, we were able to get everything, including lunch boxes and a separate pair of gym shoes that each child needs for gym class, which stay at the school all year. What makes the trip so time consuming is the supplies each child needs that go to the classroom - like wipes, paper towels, band-aids, paper cups, Ziploc bags, etc. I have no problem donating these items, being a teacher myself I know how expensive it can be for a teacher to buy those things for herself. But it means that after we get all the the usual school supplies, we have to go all over the store to find the other stuff. Which isn't as fun to buy, and the kids have lost interest by then. But I will not go on the worst shopping trip of the year and not come home with everything - I want it done!

But the kids were really very good, the store was pretty empty, and we were able to get it all done. We also had Sam look at toys to come up with birthday ideas, which took forever. He was acting as if these decisions were life or death. I thought he would be asking for everything he saw and I wouldn't be able to keep up writing everything down, but the opposite was true - he couldn't decide on anything. It reminded me of shopping with my Mom and my sister when we were kids, and Wendy could never pick anything out. Finally Maria and I got so hungry for lunch we told him we were done and we could look on Amazon from home.

Back to school shopping is done. And we are $130 poorer!

Style Review Details

I know Ben posted Maria's awards last night but I wanted to give a few more details.

Maria's category - Ready, Let's Sew, was about two thirds into the program. Since the runway was just in an outdoor pavilion on the fairgrounds, you really couldn't hear the scripted information about each person as the walked down the runway. Ben and I decided it wouldn't be worth taking video of since you couldn't hear anything. But when I saw her walk, I wish we had gotten it on video. Complete confidence, posing with her hand on her hip and swaying when she walked. Dolly, my friend who we were sitting with, asked if we had practiced at home. The answer was no - I had never seen her walk like that. But it was so cute.

Then the awards. Maria received an outstanding for her Skill-a-thon for the Beginner class - there were about 20 people in that class. About 8 girls got outstandings, then they gave 1st, 2nd and 3rd place among those finalists. Maria got 1st place, and she was thrilled. Her good friend Lily got 3rd, which was nice as well. The first place finish came with a $25 cash award, which was unexpected but very appreciated. Ben and I emphasized with her how all of that hard work and studying had paid off.

Maria also got an Honorable Mention for the actual skirt. Again, she was thrilled and I was surprised - when Rita and I helped her put it together I know there were some flaws in the construction. In her category, there were about 3 Honorable Mentions, 3 Outstandings, and one of the outstanding awards were chosen as the representative for State Fair. Lily had an outstanding, and another girl from Maria's class at school was chosen for State.

All in all, a successful evening and a great first 4-H experience for Maria.

And a special thanks to my Mom for the phone advice on the pattern, and Rita for all of her help putting the skirt together. We could not have done it without you!

Fashion night at the fair

Maria received an honorable mention for her skirt and an outstanding on her skill a thon. She also received first place in her skill a thon and won $25!
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Ben's Birthday Party

Yesterday was Ben's annual birthday bash. As usual, we had between 40-50 people here, including adults and kids. It was a nice combination of the regulars plus some friends that we haven't seen in over 10 years, like Jim Wink (who traveled from New York!) and Chris Yelton. It's always so much fun to get together and get caught up with each other's lives, and of course tell the old stories as well.

Pictures can be viewed at
http://gallery.mac.com/kellerclan#100038

Thanks to everyone who made the trip to celebrate with us!

Maria's 4-H Skill-a-thon

This morning Maria had her Skill-a-thon for her sewing project for 4-H (the fair starts on Monday). We were both a little nervous since we didn't know what to expect. I was mostly focused on getting her to the right place at the right time, hoping that we had done all the paperwork correctly, etc. We did schedule a practice interview with her advisor, Jenny, earlier this week, during which Jenny gave us a little bit better idea what to expect and ran Maria through what her interview might be like. Afterwards, Jenny told us that she thought Maria did very well and was ready, although Maria has been continuing to study for at least a half hour every day .

So we were pretty sure she was prepared but having never gone through this before we still weren't certain. We got there this morning in plenty of time - they even took back Maria a few minutes early. She was gone for about 40 minutes - don't think Sam was prepared for the long wait even though we brought his Nintendo DS and a sticker book. He did fine, just complained. In the waiting area, which was for all sewing projects, I saw quite a few outfits that were much more complex than the skirt and scrunchie that we had made. But I'm assuming many of those girls were in a different category that us.

Maria rocked. She got a 36/36, which breaks down to 10/10 in all three Skill-a-thon categories and a 6/6 for the interview. The interview comments were all positive as well - things like "So cute!," "Described the process in detail," and "great interview, easy to talk with." And (Rita, are you ready?) the comments about the construction of the skirt: "Very well done!" and "Seams and hem neat and pressed." The judge did ask Maria if she or her Mom did the pressing, and she told the truth that I had done the pressing.

So she and I are both very proud of her - she worked very hard this week to learn all 13 sewing categories. We won't know final scores until after the Style Review Monday night - the sheet says that the projects will be reviewed again then before any final decisions will be made. I'd like her to do well, but had not thought that doing very well could mean going to the state fair until Jenny brought that up Tuesday. Not sure I would be up for that, but it is what it is.

Lunch for One

I took the kids to lunch at McDonald's today. We were meeting Ben there after his band rehearsal.  As we were pulling into the parking lot, Sam said, "Mommy, do I have to sit with you and Maria?"

Me:  You don't want to sit with your sister and me?

Sam:  No, I want to sit at my own table.

Me:  By yourself?

Sam:  Yes, by myself.

Me:  Are you planning to buy your own lunch?

Sam:  No!  I don't know how to buy my own lunch.

Me:  Then I guess you're going to sit with us.

Sam:  Are those the rules?

Me:  Yes, the rule is, if I buy your lunch you have to sit with me.

Honestly, five years old and I'm already embarrassing him?  Could be a long 13 years until he heads off to college!

Nice While It Lasted

The four of us have been going on fairly long bike rides each day since we returned from vacation (I think it's been five days now). We all enjoy it, the kids look forward to our nightly ride, and not only is it fun but I am finally getting some exercise. We have gone to the subdivision on the far side of our road for variety frequently as well.

But this afternoon, with no warning whatsoever, the township put down tar and new gravel over the entire road (at least our half of it). This gravel is not going to be nearly as friendly to ride on -especially for Sam who only mastered riding a couple of weeks ago. Right now its loose and there is tar showing in places. Ben thinks it should get better soon, but I am so disappointed. Tonight a bike ride was out anyway since I had Book Club and Ben took the kids golfing, but we'll see if its rideable tomorrow or not.

The World Revolves Around Him

Sam has a series of books called the Stella and Sam series. In the books, Sam is a boy about 4 years old and his older sister is named Stella. Sam usually gets into trouble and his sister Stella halps rescue him. There are only three characters in each book: Sam, Stella, and their dog, Fred. And they hit close to home because Sam also has an older sister who has been known to get him out of trouble. These books are really cute and we have several - they were a favorite of Sam's last year.

Tonight for stories he dug out those books to read. Before we got started, Sam said, "Mommy, why do they call Maria "Stella" in these books?"

What is a Rainy Saturday Good For?

Finishing the 4-H project book! We are finished and even practiced all of the hand stitches. Now all Maria has to do is study each day. There are 11 possible Skillathon categories and the judges will pick three to ask about. I think if I quiz Maria each day, and also considering her practice interview with her advisor Tuesday morning, she should be in pretty good shape. Her interview is at 9:45 Friday morning, after which we have to get home and start preparing for Ben's big party on Saturday. Then she has a fashion show at the fair Monday night, but that should be low pressure once the interview Friday morning is done. I'll be glad to get this first year done so I know what to expect next year.

Dragons Game and Camp Out

Last night Ben and his Dad took the kids to a Dayton Dragons game. The kids always have fun watching all of the antics between innings and even paid attention to the game too. Ben said they were well-behaved and had a great time. I enjoyed a relaxing evening at home. The picture is them with Heater the dragon.

When they returned, the four of us had a camp-out in the tent in the backyard. We had promised the kids to do it Saturday night, but the weather was not going to cooperate. We all got in the tent around 11:30 and Maria fell right asleep. Sam sneezed quite a bit - this allergy problem may need medication by the fall, he definitely had more trouble sleeping outside. I told him I would sleep inside with him but he of course said no. Ben and I finally fell asleep, only to be woken at 3:30 by police sirens, and this weird howling noise that seemed alarmingly close. I got ready to go to the bathroom, when Ben told me I might want to wait - the noise was a coyote in the field behind our house. So we laid there hoping to hear the coyote bark again, only farther away, so we knew he was moving away. After a half hour we finally used the flashlight and couldn't see him anywhere, so we both took turns going to the bathroom. I still couldn't get back to sleep, so at 5:00 I gave up and came inside.

I really wanted to sleep in the tent with the kids, but I wasn't getting any sleep! Ben and I are both pretty tired today. But the kids had fun, weren't awakened by the coyote, and we got in our camp-out before the storms this evening.

What I Missed The Least

After being away from the kids for five full days, I have decided what I missed the least.

Sam using the word poop all the time - in conversations or in songs that he makes up as he goes. I never once thought while I was gone, "Boy, I wish someone would sing about poop to me."

A Few Vacation Pictures

This is the ten of us who stayed in the house in Key Colony Beach.

This is Maria and Sam at a park where Grandma and Grandpa K. took them hiking.

This is at Independence Day where the kids and Grandpa K. helped their team win the Tug-of-War.

This is Ben and I just after sunset at Key West.

Home Sweet Home

We got back last night around 6:30, after a long day of traveling by car and by plane. First we drove 2 and a half hours to the Miami airport (from Key Colony Beach - about halfway down the Florida keys), and then flew from Miami to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Columbus. We had a great time but are happy to be home.

The kids spent the five days with Ben's parents, and had a fun time going to parks, hikes, miniature golfing, etc. They were thrilled to see us when we got home, and we are adjusting back into our usual routine easily. We have decided that we are all going to take at least one 2-3 mile bike ride each day now that Sam is riding on two wheels. We already took one last night and one this morning.

Maria and I also have some 4-H work to do - the Skillathon is a week from tomorrow. We should be able to get the project book done tomorrow, but then have a lot of studying to do. We are going to have to sit down for maybe an hour (or more) each day next week and practice. I'm not really looking forward to it, but at least then it will be done. I think next year she might do a cooking project - she has much more interest in that area, which will hopefully make all of this easier.

Ben should be posting some vacation pictures in the next few days. He starts band on Monday so he is busy with work stuff too - can't believe how fast the summer is going by!

Dolphins!

This morning Ben and I went on a dolphin encounter at the Dolphin Research center on Grassy Key which is near where we are staying - Key Colony Beach. We were able to get in the water with them and give them commands, shake hands, etc. It was awesome.

We are having a great time but I really miss the kids and am glad we are going home tomorrow.
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Fireworks

Last night we went to Red, White and Boom in downtown Columbus. We've lived in central Ohio for 15 years now and have never made it there, and now that the kids are getting older we thought we'd try. The weather was iffy - it rained all morning but cleared up (mostly) by late afternoon. We got there around 5:00 and parked in lot near the arena district. We were one of the first ones there - the lot was almost empty - and so Ben picked a spot by the entrance and backed in, so that we could get out quicker. The problem was, the entrance was on the opposite end as the exit, and we assumed the entrance was the exit. So it still took us a half hour to get out of the parking lot after the show.

All went well, and the fireworks were, in Maria's words, "Spectacular." We had two short, light rain showers while we were waiting for the fireworks, but we had umbrellas so we stayed dry. We got home around midnight, and the kids went straight to bed.

Today it's been raining all morning - a pretty depressing 4th of July. We are busy getting ready for our trip to Marathon Key - we have to meet the Hummels at the Columbus airport at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. Ben's parents are visiting later and then staying the night before taking the kids back with them tomorrow.

Red, white and Boom

Here we are waiting for the fireworks. We watched the parade and have been in this spot since about 7:00. Showers have been light and we have umbrellas. Kids have been playing Nintendos, adults have been playing Blackberries. So far, so good.
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No Training Wheels!

Sam accomplished riding his bike with no training wheels for the first time tonight. Ben first took the wheels off over a month ago, and tried to teach Sam in the same way he taught Maria - running with him on the bike until he felt secure on his own. Sam hated it and wanted the wheels put back on. Ben refused, saying he was ready with them off, and he keeps wiping out with the training wheels on because he tries to go too fast around corners and the wheels get caught. I told Sam that I would get a bike, and then we could "learn" together.

But then, as usual, life got in the way. T-ball games, golf camp, short trips, etc., and before we know it it's July and Sam hasn't ridden his bike yet. Last night, he expressed interest, but would let no one help him and could not get started on his own. He did keep trying and trying though.

So today we went to Wal-Mart and I picked out a bike. Just a 7 speed beach cruiser, but exactly what I wanted. This evening we got it out, and while Ben was adjusting the seat for me, Sam decided to try going down the hill in the side yard on his bike, which we had tried to talk him into yesterday as well. (We had taken Mike's suggestion and lowered the seat all the way so he would feel in control.) And he did well in the yard, so he started riding on the driveway. We are now working on corners and going on the road. He has learned how to fall by letting the bike fall under him. It saves him falling but his legs are going to be bruised.

I don't think we're going to be able to get him to come inside very easily tonight!


Update - we just got back form our first family bike ride - Sam did pretty well, except for turning around. But great for only riding for an hour!

WALL*E

This afternoon we took the kids to see WALL*E. And I have to say, Disney Pixar has done it again. A great movie that we all enjoyed. This is the first movie that Sam has not had to make a trip to the bathroom once. (I believe that many of those bathroom trips over past years was due to boredom more than need.) I didn't think I would like it when I heard that it was mostly silent, but it wasn't boring at all. And the environmental message was important as well - maybe our children will be able to take better care of our planet than we have.

Interesting side note - Sam saw more outer space in this movie then when I took him to the planetarium last week - he recognized the moon, sun and Saturn. I definitely chose poorly when I took him to watch "Larry the Cat Goes to Space" last week!

Sad News

Today we learned that Kapra Quain, a classmate of Ben's and friend from college, passed away over the weekend. She was 38 and died of natural causes. Ben kept in contact for several years after graduation, but lost touch recently. Needless to say, the news is a shock to most of us. It has hit Ben fairly hard, he and Kapra had almost all of their classes together. I didn't know her that well, but all of my memories are good.

The services are all in Minnesota, where her family lives (Kapra lived in New York and was still in the Army), making it impossible for her college friends to attend. They are trying to plan a weekend in August to get together and celebrate Kapra's life. We're hoping Ben can make it, given what his schedule looks like after band starts up.

Good-bye Kapra, you will be missed.

http://www.legacy.com/StarTribune/Obituaries.asp