the Great Outdoors in Pictures

The Great Outdoors

We took Silas and Micah on a hiking trip in a national park not too far from home. Some friends kindly lent us their baby back-pack carriers though I was hoping that Silas would prefer to walk rather than be carried. However, after a recent hike at Pinnacle, I suspected we would be hauling around a 35+ load on our backs.
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Pinnacle
Silas and I started up the trail, hoping to meet Joel, Dad, the sisters and exchange students on their down. After more than 20 minutes we had made it almost 3/10 of the 1.5 mile hike. I realized after 12 steps in that this was not a destination-goal hike. For Silas, it was about digging in the dirt, saying hello to people and dogs passing us as they came or went, stopping to spot every airplane, trailmarker or bird singing overhead. And jumping. Did I mention jumping? I think we stopped 8 times (in 20 minutes, mind you) to jump off a rock.

I realized Silas was tired when he refused to stand up after one of our stops to dig in the dirt. Since I was in exercise mode, I told him we could dig at the bottom but fo rnow, if he didn't walk, I would have to carry him. BIG MISTAKE. I carried him on my hip most of the way back down. He was so encouraging though; he told me things like "You're doing it, Mama!" "Don't fall!" and "Mama, do you need help?" To this I replied, "Yes, Silas. WHy don't you get down and walk now."
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So, we took the backpacks to Petit Jean. After we checked into our lodge, we hike a mile or so to see the "bear caves." Apparently, no bears live there, but I believe they did before the white man came and sent the bears onto the trail of tears.
Anyway, the trail and caves were lovely and rocky and provided the perfect pre-supper/bedtime exercise Silas needed to prepare him for...

Sharing a 70 sq. foot room with all of us. It was a long night. I think my favorite part was the screaming while banging the crib against our neighbors wall. The next morning, we checked out and hiked the Cedar Creek Falls Trail down the waterfall. I remember hiking this trail in college and thinking, "Gosh, this is a pretty good hike." Going down felt 3 times as long since Micah was pulling my hair to climb out of the pack. The way up was much more grueling yet pleasant than I remember in college. I had Silas singing songs in my ear. In one round, he sang "happy birthday" to Zaccheus.

Overall, it was such a fun experience. We saw fish in the creek, chipmunks and squirrels on the trail, wildflowers and yes, there were plenty of places to jump off rocks as well.
Pictures coming soon.

Because I was tagged several times-

MAN TAG:
1. Who is your man? Joel Bryant
2. How long have you been married? 5+ years
3. How long dated? a little over a year
4. How old is your man? 28
5. Who eats more? pretty sure I do
6. Who said "I love you" first? Joel did
7. Who is taller? Joel
8. Who sings better? I do, but he's not bad when he's serious about it
9. Who is smarter? Like Kim said, "which kind of smarts?"
10. Whose temper is worse? mine!
11. Who does the laundry? I do
12. Who takes out the garbage? it's a tie
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do
14. Who pays the bills? I do
15. Who is better with the computer? Joel
16. Who mows the lawn? Joel does 9 times out of 10
17. Who cooks dinner? I do
18. Who drives when you are together? we take turns
19. Who pays when you go out? we take turns
20. Who is most stubborn? we couldn't decide. PROBABLY Joel
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I am- this probably means I'm less stubborn than Joel
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Another tie
23. Who kissed who first? Our first kiss was at our wedding
24. Who asked who out? Joel asked me out
25. Who proposed? Joel
26. Who is more sensitive? I am.
27. Who has more friends? I do.
28. Who has more siblings? I win 6-2
29. Who wears the pants in the family? We both wear pants

I tag Andrea

Time to clean up our language

Today from the back of the car, Joel and I heard Silas say,

"Learn to drive, people!"

Get psyched.

It's far better than the Crop Circle Conspiracy.
Thanks to Joel and Laura, my movie for the
2007 Poteet Family Film Festival is completed.

"the Ball"

Coming soon to theaters everywhere.

Cooking with Silas

Is God in a bad mood too?

Septermber in general is one of the greatest months of the year. October is the first greatest month followed by September, which is tied for second three-ways with April and Christmas (I know Christmas isn't a month, but I'm pretty sure that it would be more simple for everyone if December were renamed "Christmas".

Here a couple of September highlights:

1. It's the month just before October.
2. Yom Kippur
3. the First Day of Autumn
4. September 13- International Chocolate day
5. September 19- Talk like a pirate day
6. Of course there's Labor Day as well. Labor day would mean nothing to me if people didn't come to visit us every year. Why? Joel doesn't get the day off and neither do I. This year was fun because Labor day was Baby Mania with the Kruses. 5 babies, 2 and under just having a great time eating and trying to learn to share.

September 22, however, has been called (by me) the worst day of September, 2007.

Here's what happened:
I found out we ran out of grocery money.
Micah pooped 3 times in a single hour.
Silas cried without any breaks for about an hour. This was a temper tantrum like we haven't seen for a while complete with door slamming and screaming. After 45 minutes of trying to ignore him and after having woken Micah up TWICE, I called Andrea for help. And help she did because apparently Ava was doing the EXACT SAME THING at their house! I gave him yogurt and granola, tylenol and told him we would go see the Big Dam Bridge for a walk. This stopped the crying for the amount of time it took him to eat the snack and then the crying resumed until we got in the car.

A day before all this happened, I was having a mini-breakdown from all the crying and whining that both Silas AND Micah were throwing at me. I told God I needed some way to have a break from the insanity. I remember praying something like this: "God- I am SICK of tripping over toys, hearing that I'm doing a bad job all day long, and smelling poopy diapers!"

On the worst day of September, 2007, I woke and 2/3 of my prayer had been answered. I had cramps so bad I didn't care about the toys and head cold with a stuffy nose so I couldn't smell the diapers anymore.

Sorry. No pics for this post.

It's Silas' party! (but I'll cry if I want to, too)

I keep wanting to say that I can't believe that 2 years have passed today since Silas first made his introduction to us. But we've known Silas longer than that. He was long awaited and much loved months before his actual birthday. I get a little teary when I think about how quickly he's growing out of babyhood and into "child" hood. I've had flashback after flashback about many of the details of his birth, home-coming, and developmental mile stones over the last week and I can't think of one that doesn't make me smile or laugh.

The birthday celebration started yesterday with a party get-together with the LR/Hot Springs friends. I have to say that I wasn't the only one a little teary eyed. Events leading up to the party (which was at lunch time) didn't equal a party-time attitude. He bumped his head 2 times, got a mild spanking and had to have his diaper changed when he wanted to play.

I have to say that being consistent with discipline was particularly hard with friends here to celebrate Silas.

Sadly, Silas had to sit in time-out. After nearly 45 minutes of near-hysteria (not 45 minutes in time-out. Really it was only every other minute or so that a melt-down would occur; pretty predictably when it was Garrett's turn to play with the tonka truck), I thought he could use a little time to himself with his paci in his bed until we were ready to eat. Turned out to be a great idea. Apparently, 3 friends wasn't too few.


Everyone is happily eating sandwiches, grapes and TWISTY CHEETOHS!!


This is the same scene less than 30 seconds later.


That afternoon, Aunt Emily P. showed up and we went to our most frequent place for eating out: AR Children's Hospital Capital View Cafeteria! Silas ate crackers and tuna fish, celery, hard-boiled eggs and for desert, we shared a pudding parfait!


Every time we arrive at the hospital, and nearly every time we make our way back to the car, Silas reminds us that there is a bird in the hospital. We always get a better look from inside the elevator. Other than eating, this may be Silas' favorite part about ARCH.


This morning, we started off the actual birthday with some powdered sugar donuts. And then it was off to the Zoo where the new grizzly bear exhibit is open. Scary. The weather was perfect- the high today was 70 degrees. Very different than that summer day 2 years ago.


Here's Micah enjoying a plastic oreo cookie while Silas open his presents!


I think we've had a fantastic time celebrating. God has really given us much in Silas to celebrate.

"Does this ever happen at anyone else's house?" Part II

Do you ever agree to teach beginning Spanish, choose a curriculum, make parents angry by having them spend about $90/YEAR for their child's instruction, book and supplies and then just as things get settled get moved to intermediate Spanish?

Just to do the whole thing over again?

The whole process makes me think maybe I'm not an educator after all.

"Does this ever happen at anyone else's house?" Part I

Bad Company Corrupts Good Character

But we haven't had any bad company, and most character here is still in its early formation. Now here's a word on both.

We've had the fun of hosting lots of people in the last 30 days. After the Morgans came to visit, the Bradleys came, then the adult Fanks, then the Lumpkins. Here are the highlights from each visit (excluding the Morgans since they got a blog post earlier).


THE BRADLEYS-
We ate supper, played at the park, went to the zoo, had naps, ate supper at Children's hospital and played at the hospital park, the men folk went to a ballgame while the women folk got to play with Kristen from the golden days of yore (that is, when I was 10 and Andrea was 9 and we lived on Pleasant Grove Rd.) Then Sunday we all went to church, came home, ate lunch and sent the Bradleys on their way. They only left behind 2 dresses. Anabelle and Ava were so much fun to be around. Ava did not kick or push Silas down the stairs or even strangle him. After the threat of a spanking for taking toys away from Silas, she even started sharing toys and giving hugs. Anabelle really liked running with Lewis. I think he was really glad to have someone to chase. The low point was church on Sunday. I won't write about it here, but I will say that we are visiting other churches again.


THE FANKS-
I baked a pasta dish that was fun to put together and we enjoyed eating leftover apple pie and seeing Pop's Ghana pictures. Sadly, Joel had to be at work all the next day but the rest of us took another great trip to the zoo. This was especially fun because the lowland gorilla's were running from one end of their exhibit to the other and the tigers were swimming in their swimming pool. After the zoo, we ate lunch at home and while the boys took naps, Pops and Debbie sent me to run fun errands. I bought a grill pan at Williams Sonoma that I have returned already because it's not for glass top stoves.

Why anyone would want a glass top stove for functionality is beyond me.

After I got home, we played outside in the pool and then ate pancakes for supper. I am especially grateful for all the dishes that Debbie cleaned up. Having others wash my dishes is certainaly a way that I understand that someone cares about me!

THE LUMPKINS-
The Lumpkins have moved out of their apartment. We were their first of several half-way houses on their journey to Fuller Seminary. Silas really liked waking up to find that Eleanor was here and Eleanor was sweetly attentive to Micah, informing me frequently of his name and location. For supper we ate a taco pizza and after the babies were asleep, or trying to fall asleep, we mixed frozen drinks and celebrated the creative triage systems of UAMS. The next day was a little crazy for the Lumpkins. I imagine if they ever have the internet again, they might write on their blog about their experience with a moving company. I hope so.



As far as good character is concerned, we are working daily to improve manners and attitudes in our home. We are hoping to replace "uh-huh" with "yes ma'am" or "yes sir" and the dramatic throwing of milk paired with the yelling of "Don't want it!" with "I'm finished." It's so rewarding to see success and to feel that we are hopefully instilling respect for parents and elders in a culture that is increasingly self-centered. We are thrilled to watch Silas try to comfort Micah when he's crying and even share some of his favorite toys with him. I pray that Silas' actions are the early signs of a compassionate heart and that we may continue to help him develop this to bring hope to hurting world.


I also pray that we can get the crayon off the screen of our laptop.

In other news,
Micah is rolling all over the place and scootching around and trying to eat everything in sight. He is almost sleeping from 10pm to 7am without waking up. A couple of other favorites about Micah: he loves the johnny jump up, apple sauce, and laughing at himself in the mirror.

Joel is working 8-5 this month and getting ready for his first time as a witness in a criminal trial. Joel is definitely sleeping from 10pm to 7am without waking up. He's fixing up his bike!

I am going to be the elementary Spanish teacher for the homeschooling co-op here. It's the perfect job right now as it's only 1 hour a week, and they will provide childcare.

Harry Potter Craze!

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Vengence is mine, Old Navy! and other short news

I tried to buy some shorts at Old Navy with a Gap giftcard. This made good sense to me because I can and have used my Gap credit card at Old Navy. They are ALL THE SAME COMPANY for goodness sake, just selling different quality clothes. Case in point: one pair of shorts I bought began to fray at the bottom after only one wash. This was just the excuse I needed to take back the shorts.

It all started when I decided it was time to retire the green cargo maternity shorts I had been wearing every day since March, and that I wore pretty much every day LAST summer when I was pregnant with Micah and...that I wore nearly every day when I was pregnant the summer before that with Silas. That was an extremely long sentence and I think it really drives home the point here that I wore those shorts for an extremely long time. So I went to Old Navy and found 2 pair of shorts and some sweaters for $2 each. I went to check out, tried to use my Gap giftcard and here's the conversation we had.

Haughty Old Navy Check-out lady-"This is Old Navy." (Of course I knew it was Old Navy!)
Me-"I can't use this here? I use my Gap card here." (Very true. Back when I used to buy clothes, I used it there.)
Haughty Old Navy Check-out lady- "No. This is Old Navy. That's a Gap giftcard." (Again, I KNOW WHERE I AM!)
Me- "Really? The lady at Gap said it was good at 3 places." (I guess I could have dreamed the Gap lady said this.)

I wasn't trying to be argumentative. I had been saving my Gap giftcard for a long time because I knew I would need shorts this summer and even after the Great Garage Sale of Summer 2007, I still needed to be frugle in using money to buy much-needed clothes. That's why I felt myself getting red. It wasn't her fault I couldn't use my gift card there. It WAS her fault when she condescendingly picked the card up from the counter and read the back of the card to me.

For the rest of the week, I tried to find shorts at other stores for the same price. But I couldn't find what I was looking for. So after the first wash of those green shorts, I went to Old Navy to return them, feeling as though I'd received the unmistakable "go-ahead" from the clothing consumer gods that indeed, I should return the shorts and in my heart feel avenged for how I was treated.



In other news, we had such a fun time with Erin, Clark, Andrew and Corinne this weekend! We went to the zoo and cooked a lot and they graciously sent Joel and I on a date to see the new Harry Potter movie. Then the next day, they watched Micah while we got to go on a date to the orthopedist with Silas. The orthopedist told us that Silas didn't have to get a new cast because his splint was holding up so well and that we could likely remove it in a week! Other fun things that Silas and Andrew did together were (happy) yelling matches, trying to jump down the stairs, and playing some tunes on the little piano.

Now the good news and the bad news:

the good news is Joel doesn't have any more overnight call until September, there's leftovers from the Morgan visit and Micah is asleep again.

the bad news there was a string of robberies committed in our neighborhood this week. We didn't do it, nor were we robbed, but everyone I've talked to on our street is upset. Micah is teething and unusually fussy, and we still can't go swimming for another week and our community group is hanging out this weekend at a lakehouse with a lake where everyone else can get wet but Silas.

Tune in next time to hear about that trip to the lake house. Also coming up...the Bradleys come to visit!

**Pictures compliments of the Morgans.**

Bob Loblaw got me the $400,000 I deserved

For all you parents out there, note that there are no warning labels on queen size beds or mattresses.
But there should be. They should read

"Warning: Jumping on beds may result in injury or death" or "Warning: Jumping on beds has resulted in serious injury"

Silas' fun and games landed him a trip to Children's ER, a splint, and a trip to see an orthopedist next Tuesday. Both bones in his arm are broken just above the wrist.

He's doing just fine. He was mad at everyone at the hospital, but I think it had partly to do with his not being allowed to run up and down the halls. In the frenzy of deciding he needed x-rays, we forgot to bring his shoes. He's been busy enough since we got home though. Except for the angry yelling because he can't get up as easily when he falls down and the HUGE thing on his arm, you would never know anything was wrong.

the 6 month Well-Baby Check-up

I would call it a total success if you don't count the down pour of rain as we were getting in and out of the car or the dresser than Silas pulled over on himself just before we left.

Micah is up from the 3rd percentile to the 4.5 percentile. He weighs 13.1 lbs and is getting long and has a big head. GOOD JOB, MICAH!

The pediatrician said that Silas might get a black eye from the huge bruise he had on his forehead. I don't know about that, but he sure is cranky.

Today is the tomorrow of the past; yesterday's future, today.

I've been working on that title for a long time.

We went to the park to play on this.

But we played with this instead.

the 6th love language

I've been practicing a new self-discipline. As I spend more time with Silas and he learns new skills and words, I realize what full-sensory oriented world he lives in. It's really marvelous. Silas is training me to listen, touch, smell and hear so many things that I've come to miss in the whirlwind that is my life here. I delight even more in cooking and baking. Because of Silas, I can enjoy the sound of soup simmering on the stove, take in the smells of sage and curry. I find kneading bread and feeling the smooth, rubbery texture of pizza dough therapeutic. Taste and oral texture have never escaped my attention, but I've also come to appreciate even more the presentation of a dish.

It is often difficult to enjoy intelligent conversation at the dinner table in out kitchen. There is nothing leisurely about feeding Micah oatmeal and pears at a rate that contents him. Silas invites Lewis to partake in our experience by throwing scraps from his highchair, which he asks for later. It is not uncommon for Joel and I to endure nearly an entire meal with crying or yelling from either side.

It can be draining, but usually by the end of a meal, I feel I've found myself again. In this communal and spiritual affair, I can satisfy multiple roles I've come to play in our household. I am mother to my children. Chef and banquet director of my kitchen. And even if only for a brief moment, I am friend and lover to my husband, as we can enjoy the culinary regalement together, amusing ourselves not only with taste, but with the sight and sound of our children enjoying what we've together put before them.

This is Silas enjoying pumpkin bean soup and vanilla pudding with walnuts. You can't tell, but this shirt has buttons.

Best before June 28. 2008

First, the bad news: before all the fun, I fell down the stairs and broke my little toe. I'll make it.

Now the good news:

We went to the sisters (5-7) dance recital with the babies. I don't know why I thought that Silas wouldn't enjoy it. There was loud music, people dancing around the stage and lots of clapping involved. Those are the majority of things Silas loves. Joel's eyes are closed in this picture because he hadn't had any sleep. Besides L,K&S being fantastic dancers and definitly the best to watch, I thought the recital was fun because the boy's cousins Anabelle and Ava (4yrs/2yrs) kept dropping their toys over the rail into the aisle and telling Andrea after every dance "Mama, it's time to go home now." I was entertained by the variety of answers Andrea gave as to why it was not, in fact, time to go home. For some reason "No, we have to stay because it's about to get really great" and "Just 22 more songs before Laura dances her own special dance" did not deter them from asking over and over and over. I laugh out loud even now as I write about it. By the way, Joel and the babies didn't make it all the way to Laura's solo. They went home at intermission as planned.

So Joel headed home Sunday and the rest of us Fanks stayed on to help play with the various children coming and going throughout the week. At one point there were 12 children all under 4th grade, but 2/3 of them had mommies present.

We made it back to Little Rock just in time to welcome Phil and Kathleen in from Houston for a short visit. We walked the flat-double-jogging-stoller-friendly trail at Pinnacle Mountain and watched half of a new favorite movie: "Stranger than Fiction". I reccomend it.


Tuesday, I cooked dinner for a family I don't know with a new baby. I signed up through the spouses auxiliary because no one else was signing up. Then I found out that the family is living with mother's parents so I was supposed to provide a meal for everyone. I was kindof bitter about this (1. why do they need someone to cook for them? Surely it doens't take 4 adults to care for one little baby and a 5 year old! 2. We didn't have enough of what I cooked for us to eat so we ate mashed potatoes for dinner that night. OK, techically, that one was my fault.)
Anyway, since I had a bad attitude about it, I thought I should cook something nicer than I originally planned to see if I couldn't change the way I felt. I made pork tenderloin with fig and blue cheese, garlic whipped potatoes, mixed baby green salad with balsamic vinagrette, rolls (from the freezer) and chocolate chip pie. I didn't feel much better but I was proud of the menu I came up with.

We've nearly settled back into our routine here. We played with Garrett the neighbor and will play with Eleanor tomorrow- both activities scheduled into our weekly routine that I really enjoy about living here in Little Rock.

Here are developemental milestones worth noting:
Silas- has officially done away with morning nap/rest time. I miss this time dearly, but it also has allowed for time with just Silas and me. He is climbing and jumping on everything, including poor Lewis. It doesn't go over well with Lewis so we've nixed it. No more jumping on Lewis. It's a rule. I'm trying to find a way to incorporate another rule that fairly disallows children younger than 4 from grabbing things from off the countertop and carrying them around the house and up the stairs. So far, I haven't come up with anything, but it would sure solve a lot of problems around here if I could. Finally, Silas' most common phrase right now is "I'll be right back." But truth be told, he never comes right back.

Micah- is going to be mobile pretty soon. He likes to sleep on his tummy now so we dont' lay him on his back anymore. He just rolls right over, losing his paci in the process. I never know where I'm going to find him in his bed when he wakes up. In this picture. I put him directly under the toys. I'm not sure how he rolled over the green base. Micah is also trying new food. He likes oatmeal and squash- sometimes even together.


Joel-has one more night of night-float. I think his life will improve drastically when he doesn't have to work when everyone else gets to sleep. He'll be able to mow the backyard that has become very savannah-like, and join in our daily walk through the valley. There may even be time for a couple of dates.

I-have been learning things about life that are too personal to be adequately explained in a blog. Just know that I'm growing too.

Favorites

I took Silas to the LR Zoo this week with our new friends who live at the top of street. We had a nice time together and it was so great to see how excited Silas was when he recognized the real life animals that he had seen pictures of in books. His favorites were elephants, giraffes, fish in the fish pond and the fish food dispenser.

Micah loved the zoo too. He loved it so much he didn't take a nap the entire morning.

Father's day is coming up...
I'm really glad that Joel is the dad around here. He does a great job and I'm pretty sure that he is Silas' favorite adult. Even when he's tired from floating around the hospital all night long, he takes the time and musters the energy to play with the boys full blast for a little bit before heading off to work.
Good job, Joel. I'm really proud of you.

Real superhuman powers? Intuition? Divine providence?

This is a very strange series of events.

Sunday night, 7:00pm- Joel got in the car for work. I had a "feeling" he didn't have his ID.

Sunday night, 7:10pm- Joel pulls in the driveway and tells me he forgot his ID.

Sunday night, 7:45pm- I got bit by the spider. Called Dad. Dad asks me if I'm sure it wasn't a brown recluse. I am sure. I wash my swelling hand with soap and water. Everything is fine but I keep thinking about spiders because I've never been bit by one before

Tuesday morning, 10am- I post about my superhuman powers from getting bit by the spider because I'm still thinking about spiders.

Tuesday morning, 10:30am- Silas and I go play at the pool while Micah naps. From more than 4 feet away I see a small piece of dirt or something stuck to the hem of his shorts. For about 5 seconds I disregard it until I realize I'm having the same feeling I got when Joel left his ID. I thought about how I was right about the ID, and this new feeling that I should get whatever is on Silas' shorts ("it might be a spider!"; because I have spiders on the brain) off his shorts IMMEDIATELY.
It's a spider. It's a suspicious looking spider. I'm not sure if he's dead or not so I flick him off and he lands in the pool. He's NOT DEAD!!!! I catch him a plastic container with a lid and think to myself that I'll look him up to see if he is indeed what I fear: a brown recluse.

Tuesday afternoon, 3:30pm- I look up brown recluses on the omniscent internet, but I can't remember what my spider trapped in the tupperware box looks like.

Tuesday evening, 6:30pm- I tell Joel about the "feeling" and the spider and we return to the box.
It was a brown recluse.