Circus

On Friday night, we went to the Shipshewana Circus!! OK, so when we drove in and saw the puny tent, we almost turned around and left. But, since we had told Tyler that we were going to the circus, we stayed. Here is Dad, buying (expensive) circus tickets. What you can't hear is the circus music blasting at you while you wait.

Dad bought some cotton candy for Tyler. Tyler was pretty slow to try it, but once he did, he loved it.

They started the show with the tigers. Honestly, looking at the flimsy tent and the benches we sat on, I was worried that the tigers may easily escape! But, they pretty much meandered around the ring, while they didn't do exactly what was expected of them, they didn't act too menacing either.

Posing with the ringmaster during intermission because Tyler refused to get close. He spent a lot of time explaining the "rules" at the beginning of the circus "just like at school." 1. Pay attention. 2. Stay in your seat. 3. Make a lot of noise (unlike school). (He took long enough to explain these that I can still remember nearly a week later). Between most of the acts, he also tried to sell us something (bull whip, coloring book, peanuts, etc).


"Victor the Magnificent"
Victor balanced on a pipe and board while juggling various items, did flips and did some break dancing.

Hula hooping with 50 hoops.

And the final act, the elephant, who was very cute.

We whooped and hollered and tried to be an encouraging audience. And, we did have a good time.

Afterwards, I was happy to spend some time with my cousins, Katrina and Melissa. We used to play together all the time growing up, so it's great to be together when we can, which is more and more rare.

Stuckeys

Last Thursday, we were able to spend the day with Dave and Teneesa (and Amelia) Stuckey. I was no thinking blogging when we went, and failed to take many pictures. We enjoyed the start to our day at the Potawatomi zoo in South Bend. While it's not a large zoo, the habitats allow you to see the animals well. In fact, the wallaby/kangaroo exhibit allows you to walk through their exhibit without any barrier between you. The tigers were my personal favorite.

This man was carving a totem pole with a chain saw while we were there.

Tyler was not interested in riding the ponies, but Amelia was. Teneesa walked next to her because it was requested for children 5 and under. But, Amelia seemed brave enough to try it on her own.

After leaving the zoo, we enjoyed lunch at the Fiddler's Hearth, an irish pub downtown. Wayne had bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes) and I had Welsh Rarebit (cheese toast with tomato). I had to get the Welsh Rarebit just because it sounded funny - and Teneesa was kind enough to let me try the fried fish. It was all yummy!

We spent the afternoon catching up and while Tyler and Amelia played very nicely with one another. We had supper at El Camino and then chatted until late. We had a great time.

I wish we could just pack all of our friends and family up and bring you all with us to Kansas! I already miss you all!

Squishy

Tyler holding Sawyer. "He's squishy."

Tuesday

I've been a delinquent blogger recently, as much has happened, and I've written little. So, it is time for a brief update!

Tuesday morning, I left early to get a haircut and returned to discover that my dear son had a very red, swollen left ear. It was not only significantly larger than the other, it flopped when he touched it. I described it as a Snow White's dwarf ear - dopey, or whoever had those big, floppy looking ears.

I was barely home before I had to leave to go have lunch with my former supervisor from Healthy Beginnings (in Elkhart). On the way, I called Tyler's doctor's office in Wichita and explained what Tyler's ear looked like. I was guessing it was a spider bite and just wondered if there was something they suggested to put on it...and how to tell whether I needed to take him in to be checked (what was unsaid in my mind - to prevent it from turning black and falling off or to prevent it from causing his death - I'm always good at thinking up worst-case scenarios).

Anyway, the nurse didn't offer any calming words - only suggested that I contact the insurance company to find out where the local contracted urgent care centers are located and suggested that I take him in. So, I pretty much panicked!!! But, in the meantime, I tried to relax and did have a great time seeing my former coworkers, most of whom are the same as when I left!!

When I got home, and freaked out even more, Dad and Wayne calmed me down a bit, and talked me out of taking him to the urgent care center that evening. However, in the meantime, I applied every home-remedy I could think of or read about. Tyler took an antihistamine, we put on hydrocortisone cream, crushed aspirin and mixed it with water to put on his ear, gave him colloidal silver (a natural antibiotic), and ice packs. Ironically, that morning, I had just told my cousin Katrina that I think I'm becoming a less paranoid parent than I used to be. Wah ha ha ha.

Here is what the ear looked like from behind:

and in front:

Luckily - by Wednesday morning, it was much less red and swollen. By Thursday, it was nearly back to normal. (Big sigh of relief).

Tuesday evening, Dad flew Wayne, Tyler and I down to Rochester, IN for supper. Rochester is the chosen spot because you can walk from the airplane, across the road to a family-style restaurant.

Here are the boys pulling the plane out of the hangar.

Tyler, completing the pre-flight check. (wink wink)


Tyler loved the headphones, and the microphone...sometimes a little too much.



After the flight down, posing for me.

I think we were chatting about behaving, but we could pretend we were just engaged in deep conversation. :)

On the way home, Dad let Wayne fly (from take-off to landing) 95% of the time. Thankfully, Dad helped some with the landing. (I had put my mouthpiece away from my mouth so that my gasps of concern would not distract the pilot! :) No, actually, he did a great job and it was neat that he had the opportunity!

This picture is to document Tyler getting a little squirmy on the trip back.

Light Show

Uncle Max gave us this "Stringin'-it" toy when we were visiting in Decatur last week. It is a string that is rotated quickly with a flashing LED light show. It's actually quite fun to play with and has already given us hours of fun.

Dirty Jobs

It all started innocently enough with a can of peaches (yucky, grayish-brown canned peaches) that I came across in Mom's canning room. I looked around and saw there were more jars that probably needed to be emptied and washed. I asked Mom for permission and got started, keeping many jars aside for recycling.

It was when I got to the canned grapes and grape juice that my suspicions were confirmed. I'd seen these jars many times before. At our "old" house, we had a long chain-link fence covered with concord grape vines. These jars of grape juice would have been canned before the move to this house in 1989. Yeah, that's right, nearly 20 years ago. I didn't check to see whether it had turned into wine. I was too scared to try it. While Mom has canned since then, everything but several jars of tomato juice was pitched into the woods. Sorry lovely animals of the forest! Here is a picture of some of what was removed from the canning room. (I didn't have the energy to compile it all merely for the sake of a picture).

As you can see, I got distracted from my original goal and started removing other items as well. I swept up and we took a big load to the recycling center, and still forgot a pile of jars. I could hear Mike Rowe, Dirty Jobs, giving his commentary as I worked. It was definitely a dirty job. I'm glad that it's done. And my hands are still sore (I did this on Monday) from twisting the lids off so many jars. That makes me feel old! But it was worth it!

Back in Middlebury

Tyler no longer trusts us when we get into the car. He never knows whether we're going for 10 minutes, 3 hours or 17 hours. While it took many explanations and several days of living proof, he finally seems to trust that we aren't leaving Wayne behind, but now he tells me we live in Indiana. All this driving hither and yon has really confused my boy.

Yesterday, Wayne, Mom and Dad, Rusty and Lynette, and Kathy and Wil went on the Pumpkinvine fundraiser bike ride for 40+ miles. They all handled it well. Only some sore tooshies today.

Kathy, Wayne and Wil pulling in for a little break so that Dad, Rusty and Lynette (who rode a tandem bike to Shipshewana before wearing out) joined them.


Here are the crazy bikers!



I lucked out and instead of biking, spent the morning with Matt and Monica (Tyler loved playing with Brennan). I was happy that Carla and Greta were able to join us for part of the morning too.

In the evening we enjoyed eating at Hacienda and The Chief with our family, Matt and Monica and Kathy and Wil. Two places I haven't been to in a long time. We had a great time!

Indy

The day after we returned from Florida, we packed up again and drove to Indianapolis to visit Wayne's sister, Rachel, her husband, Hollins, and Caesar (beloved dog). At this point, Tyler was becoming very confused about where he lives, where we were going, how long it would take and was vocal about missing his Daddy.

Uncle Hollins was very kind and invited Tyler to help him feed Caesar and give him treats. Tyler was a little cautious about the whole thing, but loved Caesar's tail sweeping his face and his kisses.

We enjoyed relaxing, shopping, and on Wednesday, went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. It was impressive. We decided that if we lived in Indy, we would have a season pass. Tyler could probably spend several hours in one exhibit alone. We all had a great time!

In the center of the museum is this impressive Dale Chihuly blown glass sculpture.

Tyler pointing at the bat mobile. (In sepia tone because it was such a dark picture, you couldn't see it otherwise).


The Curious George exhibit was lots of fun for Tyler. Here he is holding his head because he hit it as he was getting ready to go down the slide. Ouch!



Loading parcels was lots of fun.



Making designs.

This was one of Wayne's favorite. It's a contraption that moves billiard balls around. Kids got to be part of keeping things moving along.

Wayne and Rachel enjoyed putting this arch together. Tyler then enjoyed knocking it down.

Rachel and Tyler

I believe that Tyler's favorite exhibit was the dinosaur exhibit. He is really into dinosaurs anyway these days, and it was very impressive.

In this picture, you can barely see Tyler's head sticking up in the bubble.

Dinosaurs to play with.

Tyler "excavating."

Tyler in the race car.

The playscape was a special exhibit for kids 5 and under. Tyler basically stayed at the water and sand stations. He had a great time.

Tyler was very sad when it was time to leave. He had a great time. The vast majority of exhibits were hands-on and great fun! We will definitely have to go back.

Thursday we spent the day with Wayne's grandparents, Wayne and Willa Mae (Billie) and his uncle, Max, in Decatur. On the way there, Tyler was distressed because he didn't understand that his Daddy would stay with us. He was a lot happier once he understood that Daddy was going with us. While we were there, I failed to take any pictures :( but I promise we had a great time! They served us two wonderful meals and we enjoyed chatting outside as it was a beautiful day.

Florida

These last few weeks seem like a whirlwind. Time is going so fast. After we left Kansas from the funeral, we drove back and arrived late Thursday night. Saturday we left for Florida.

Lynette, Tyler, Mom and I went together. We missed having Carrie and her boys!

We were relaxed which was just what we needed.

Eating at Turtles, a restaurant on Turtle beach, and a traditional stop for us.

Playing shuffleboard. I played (horribly) against Lynette and Mom.