Koops Colorado Vacation 2016

We've done quite a bit of traveling to the National Parks this year.  In May, we pulled the boys from school and flew to CA to see Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.  It was an amazing site to see Half Dome, climb to the top of a Yosemite Falls and stand among the Sequoias in the Giants Forest.  But, it was a trip, not a vacation.  We were on the go and I was packing and unpacking with each stop.

Colorado.  This was a vacation.  Built in time to relax and just enjoy the moment.  Most importantly, we had time to 'be' together.  Relaxing in the morning while drinking coffee and watching the sun rise over Longs Peak as it went from black to purple to gray in the shimmering sun.  Soaking in the hot tub after a long day and making up games with the kids.  Can you guess the abbreviation for GOSO or BVE?  Yes, we saw a lot, but we bonded a lot too.

How to Discipline Your Mom

Definition of Passive Aggressive:  indirect resistance to the demands of others and an avoidance of direct confrontation.  A defense mechanism that allows people who aren't comfortable being openly aggressive get what they want under the guise of still trying to please others. They want their way, but they also want everyone to still like them. 

And for those of you who think visually, here is an example that I found in our office this week:

Just in case this isn't clear: This is a handmade drawing of me with and X through it.  Under it, are words just in case I wasn't clear: "No Mom" and in case I wasn't sure which mom it was: "Joy."  Clearly this should be in the dictionary under "Passive Aggressive."

The culprit?  I am such a sleuth, here is how I figured it out: Aiden would tell me this to my face.  If you want further insight into this, please look up "Aggressive."  Jacob would never dare do this or say it to my face.  Please look up "first born" or "pleaser."  That leaves Jeb.  Oh, Jeb is so sweet isn't he?  He would never?!  Well, beside eliminating his brothers, the backwards 'y' gives it away.  (Thank you to our impressive public school system - you're teaching handwriting just brilliantly!).  Jeb is a classic example of the kids who just can't be mad to your face but he'll let you know in a letter or a drawing. And when I told him I was going to draw him a picture on the chalkboard since he was so good, you should have seen his face!  He sprinted to the office and I caught him mid-erase.  

I guess I should have never taken that tablet away this week.  You see, it's MY fault that he had to draw this...

Twelve Years and Counting...

January the eighth has come and gone.  It's a pretty significant date for me - the day I became a mom. Jacob turned 12 this year and it was the first time I looked at him and realized that he's not little.  Worse yet, I suddenly realized that I've only got 6 years left until he's gone.  Now, gone may not be the right word.  What I mean is that he's leaving for college in 6 years.  My time with him is more than half over and I can't believe it.

Let's back pedal a bit to explain how this thought popped into my head.  His birthday was on a Thursday.  School was back in session and to be honest, the day before had been terrible (school stuff that I'd rather not remember).  He and I celebrated over a cinnamon roll in the wee hours of the morning before school and before the rest of the house was up.  He came home and went to soccer practice and we were ready for him when he got back.  Dinner in the dining room on fine china while we ate his requested meal (enchiladas) and substituted millionaire bars for birthday cake, per his request.  He hadn't asked for much, so he was really surprised when he opened a Swiss Army Knife.  This wasn't your typical knife.  This was a well thought out knife.  A knife that was purchased in Switzerland seven years earlier.  I remember the day clearly- I stayed at the hotel with three napping boys while Tom went to buy three knives - all engraved with the date: 08.04.08.  I remember thinking that it would take forever to give the first of the three knives  - 13 years old was a long time away (I guess we couldn't wait!).  The reality of it was that Switzerland felt like just a minute ago.  But, that was seven years ago and now I've only got 6 years left - only a second really.

Switzerland 2008

Wisconsin 2015 and The Knife!

Jacob choose to not have a birthday party this year due to the school issue mentioned before.  A harsh punishment that I felt terrible about, but it was his choice of punishment.  I felt that he hadn't cemented his new friendships and a party would be nice.  This is the guilt of motherhood and the reality of following through on decisions.  Turns out we did have a big birthday dinner, but on accident!

Steakhouse Burger as big as your head!

About a week after his birthday, the younger boys had a Friday night church event so we took Jacob out to dinner - he didn't want to go.  We found this place called Jakes, which was perfect cause of the name and from the outside it looked like the kind of place we'd go to with my grandparents when I was little.  Cozy.  We opened the door and discovered this was a steakhouse!  Everyone was dressed up and I was in my wellies and Jacob in his soccer jacket (I can't remember what Tom was in, must have been better than us!).  Anyway, they handed us the menu and my face must have said it all cause Tom gave me the look that said, "don't worry about the price and don't make Jacob feel bad."  In the end, I settled down and we had a great steak dinner, totaling $200 for the three of us (yikes!).  Better memories than a party at Dave and Busters with friends that he won't remember in ten years.  Better lesson for a mom who wants to cherish the next six...

FaLaLaLaLaaa!!

The holidays are upon us. Well, they are speeding ahead of me and I'm trying so hard to catch up!  Let's back up a bit.  Maybe to Thanksgiving.  Yes, Thanksgiving was a first for us.  We stayed in our own house and our family came to us!  It was so great!  New linens and Thanksgiving decorations were purchased to make sure everything was perfect!

The day arrived and the house smelled of turkey and all the fixings.  The kids complained that they didn't like turkey.  Sometimes their British side really shows.  Whatever.  The Blauwkamps arrived shortly after 2:00 and we divided up: kids in the dinette and adults in the dining room. It was delicious and so peaceful.  The kids sounded like they were enjoying their dinner too.  Little did we know their Thanksgiving dinner consisted of rolls and jello.  Who cares, they got their veggies later with pumpkin pie. It was a great day.

Day led into night and night back into day.  Time to show off Milwaukee!  We headed to the Pettit Ice Center and we all- including Grandma and Papa- skated.  Many of us would take a spill, but we still had a great time.  And then on to Lake Front Brewery for a beer tour.  This, was not well received by the children.  Not sure the adults liked it either.  The holidays were beginning and the crowds were massive.  Can we get a re-do?

In all, it was a great weekend and it was a great way to start the holiday season.  Which, as I said, has sped by.  The tree got put up at some point.  I don't even remember when.  We only did the 'kids' tree and I wasn't the controlling mom that I usually am when the tree goes up.  It shows.  And again, I say whatever.

Shopping is done.  Thank goodness for the internet.  Shopping is always up to mom isn't it?  The kids, well, they just don't get it.  Jacob asked to shop for his brothers today.  Jeb made stuff at church. He was so excited to give it to his cousins this past weekend.  I wish I could keep him at this age.  I feel like the magic ends soon after 7.

We leave Christmas Day for Florida.  I think we all need a little time away in the sun.  It's a different kind of Christmas, but the most important thing is that we are together.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!  See ya in the new year.

Starting Again

Last year I began thinking of this blog.  I thought about how moving to Milwaukee gave me a good reason to start up again.  But then the excuses came - 'my computer is soo slow', 'when I started writing no one blogged and now they do it for money!', and 'who is really gonna read this?'  But there was always one thing that bothered me enough to come back to the blog- I don't remember much of living in Chicago...it was all a blur and I have limited stories to tell the boys.  Who cares that we aren't living in an exotic place and traveling to Europe every 6 weeks?  When I look back to blogging in England, I'm so happy that I did it.  I have memories not just of the trips, but of the little things that happened between the boys.  It's priceless.

So, here we go.  I can't make promises that I will remember every week to do this, but I will start documenting some of the interactions of these boys.  There really is something terrible and/or funny that happens on a weekly basis!  And my audience?  I'm simply catering to an audience of three.  Boys who will later look back and laugh at their own crazy antics and the woman who tried to reign them in.

Halloween 2012

As the boys get older, I have a harder time trying to maintain control over Halloween costumes.  Ya know, the matching, cute costumes that make for the best photos and the "oh how cute!" responses at the doors. This year was no different.  Jeb was insisting on being some kind of zombie, as was Jacob and Aiden didn't care.  I took full advantage of the not caring and asserted my control over the youngest.  Aiden was putty in my hands - "do you want to be an Indian?"  "Sure."  Jeb took a little bit more persuading - "how about a cowboy?" - "Only if it is a zombie cowboy." - "How about no zombie, but you can carry a fake gun?" - "Sure."

In the end I got 2/3 cute and 1/3 zombie.  But, the zombie was a soccer zombie and we had a blast making his costume!  I gotta say, I may have a knack for this!

Halloween brought 3 hours of trick or treating and over 600 peices of candy.  Luckily, Jeb gave all the chocolate peices to Tom and each boy graciously gave a gallon size ziplock bag to be sent to the troops over seas.  I'd rather have the army on a sugar high than the three little men in the house. Believe me, they're always at battle without the added sugar!

Happy Halloween!

Handwriting From the Past

Today I am getting organized.  The office always seems the last to get TLC, so on a rainy Saturday it seems the thing to do.  My biggest issue is the stack of CDs waiting to be imported to iTunes so that I can finally send them off to Goodwill.  Who listens to CDs anymore?

Music holds memories...highschool, college, and a trip to Europe many, many, many years ago.  I guess I could look at this task one of two ways - (1)great memories or (2)that I am getting old.  Especially as I download The Cranberries.  (Are they around at all?)

But, the biggest surprise came when I opened a R.E.M. cd.  It took my breath away as I looked at the initials marked by a sharpie more that 17 years ago.  Not my own initials, but GSB - Gregory Scott Blauwkamp.  My big brother.  The letters are formed just the way I remembered them - from a hand that was very meticulous and trained in engineering ways.  But, as I looked a bit longer, I also saw the letters written from a young hand, probably 20 at the time.  I haven't seen that handwriting in a 17 years and sadly, I never will again.  It shocks me that my own handwriting has changed to show time and years, yet these three letters stay young.

We've all heard the words 'only the good die young.' In many ways, dying young saves us from the hardships of growing old.  But it also takes away many dreams - from the one that is gone and from the ones who spent many days looking at that young child and wondering what they would accomplish. 

On this cold, rainy Saturday, I wonder where Greg would be if the car accident wouldn't have happened.  Would he be proud of his little sister?  Would he still think I was annoying, as big brothers often do?  I miss him everyday and I thank God for little presents...like three handwritten letters from long ago.