G is for Gaulke

First Smiles

2011-07-10T16:00:00.004-05:00

Last weekend right around his 4-week birthday, Silas starting showing us his adorable smile. While he wasn't too generous at doling them out initially, I see a few more everyday--and boy, are they cute! Not surprisingly, I get most of them right after he eats. He really likes to eat, so it makes sense that he would be the happiest when his tummy is full! Of course it's nearly impossible to have the timing to catch them on camera, but I have managed to get a few shots. Here are a couple of our happy little man.

4th Fun!

2011-07-10T15:50:00.004-05:00

I'm a little late on getting it posted, but I just can't seem to get much of anything done these days besides holding a baby boy! At any rate, here are some pics of our 4th of July fun at the parade in Sully. The day also included fun swimming with cousins in Grandpa & Grandma Nikkel's pool and fun with water balloons and fireworks in the evening. It was a good but exhausting day!

Uncle Duane and Cousin Emily leading the parade in his cool squad car

Brent was thrilled to get an orange slice as part of the loot we gathered during the parade. Mason got a whole bagful of candy! The Sully parade never disappoints...

How Mason watches every parade that includes any type of emergency vehicle. Also how he watches fireworks and, well, anything that might possibly make noise.

Our patriotic 3-year-old proudly waving his grand old flag.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T18:54:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pictures of my boys on this Father's Day. Thanks for being such a hands-on, loving daddy and a helpful husband, Brent! I'm so thankful to have a parent-partner like you!

Welcome, Silas!

2011-06-07T12:27:00.007-05:00

Introducing Silas Dean!
Born June 5, 2011, at 11:58 am.
7 lb. 11.6 oz., 20.5" long
Head of dark hair
Adorable little face
Jury still out on who he looks like

Here I sit in our living room, feeling a little nostalgic. I'm remembering similar moments 3 1/2 years ago when I set Mason's car seat down on the floor beside me and laid down on the couch, celebrating bringing our new son home, shedding tears of joy and hormones and wondering what life would now look like. Here I sit today. It's a new baby in the car seat--Silas Dean, who just arrived to join us two days ago. Now here I am, celebrating bringing our new son home, shedding tears of joy and hormones and wondering what life will now look like. Oh man, how I already love this little guy! So much. So, so much.

Mason loves him too. When I called to tell him of his arrival on Sunday around lunchtime, Mason's squeal was priceless. I'm told it was accompanied by a priceless one-legged dance. He excitedly came to the hospital multiple times wanting to hold "his baby" over and over again. He left the hospital broken hearted at least twice that he had to leave "his baby," which was hard on Mommy too. But I'm thrilled that Mason is so excited about his brother. The width of his smile and the twinkle in his eye are hard to match when he enters the room to see "his baby." I know this will mean that I will have to be a vigilant protector of "his baby" at times because 3-year-old love can be quite boisterous!

I'm looking at Silas' head of dark hair as he sleeps, noting how different he looks from Mason and how blessed I am to have my two special boys. I feel so grateful to God to have a healthy baby boy and a healthy big boy. It has been such a gift for us these last few days to experience this process again, to welcome this new life and to begin to establish a new family of four. I'm especially thankful to be on this side of labor and delivery! But I must say I find myself wondering how we got here already--where did the last 3 1/2 years go? the last 9 months? the last 3 days? Wow, as we start this new and exciting chapter of our family, I need to pay attention because it's so amazing and the moments so fleeting all at once.

Welcome, Silas Dean! We love you so much, and we're so glad you're home with us! The exciting adventure of the Gaulke family continues...

"I'm the Dutch Man!"

2011-05-01T20:53:00.004-05:00

We got Mason to don his Dutch costume today, so we could snap a few pictures before the Tulip Time crowds move in. Thankfully he really liked the costume and repeatedly said in a silly, deep voice, "I'm the Dutch man!" I also convinced him that his black crocs are his Dutch dancing shoes this year. I really think he would be pleased with wooden shoes because he would like nothing more than to make that loud "klompen" noise as he walked along, but the crocs will have to do for this year! We had Dutch Family Singers practice this afternoon (this very pregnant lady is a spectator this year), and Mason did several of the dances with the kids. Should be a fun Tulip Time year if our usual lack of naps doesn't hinder our joy! The Gaulkes are always excited about another Tulip Time of food and fun! Bring it on!

Here are some of the pictures we snapped today! You'll notice that we get the same *very large* smile a lot. In the picture with his arm out to the side, he really is saying somewhat mechanically, "I'm the Dutch man!"

Ice Cream PJ Party!

2011-04-16T22:10:00.005-05:00

Today we are celebrating! Mason has moved into his big boy bed! He is very excited, and so am I. It feels like a big relief to me to begin this transition--another thing that makes me feel a bit more ready for Baby Boy to come! (It will be even more exciting when Grandma Gaulke makes his new quilt, which she has been waiting for me to make decisions about.) I really like how the boys' room lays out, and the rocker fits in our room okay too. Yay! I actually really like changes like these--keeping things fresh and being practical to make our space work.

To officially mark the occasion we surprised Mason with an Ice Cream Pajama Party and took him to Dairy Queen in his pj's tonight. He ate a little of his Dilly Bar, but mostly just enjoyed running around DQ like a wild man! He didn't take a nap today, so I think that makes it a good night for the switch. He's so tired that it was easy to settle him in. So far he actually loves it, so if we can keep him from jumping on it when he is supposed to be sleeping, we should be in good shape!

Did I mention that he was a wild man?

Mason's 3 kitties joined us at DQ as well.
It was quite a party!

Reading "David & Goliath" to us in his new bed.

Marking Time

2011-04-15T14:32:00.007-05:00

I know, it has been FOREVER since I've even attempted a blog update. I've decided that's okay. And I'll just keep doing the best I can. But I do want to keep it going so I can continue to mark the times and seasons of our family, especially as we add a little guy in less than two months. I always love to go back and read and remember.

Brent and I just got back from Florida on Wednesday, and I decided that a vacation is a good "time marker." Therefore, a good time to post on the blog again. We spent time beforehand (B.V. - Before Vacation) planning, anticipating and packing. Then we thoroughly enjoyed! Now we're back home (A.V. - After Vacation), and it's time to get serious. In fact, on one of our flights I spent time listing the things that need to happen B.B. (Before Baby). There are 15 items on the list...so far.

I also made a list of things I learned and observed while on vacation. If you're looking for depth, you'll only find the very slightest bit here, so don't be disappointed. Hopefully there will be more to come on the Gaulke blog in the near future, but I make no promises.

A Few Things I Observed & Learned on our Florida Vacation

Putting "Express" in the name of a restaurant doesn't make it fast.

Seeing families having fun together is good.

A little girl in a swimming pool can sound like a small yapping dog.

It's good not to have a schedule. I'm getting better at it.

I really like to spend time with my husband. It's fun.

SPF 30 is not enough for white skin and beach sun. When will I learn to go all the way with the sunscreen?

There are many poor swimsuit choices made every day.

I like eating out, but it's expensive.

Uninterrupted time laying by a pool in a warm place is still a favorite activity of mine, though rarely experienced.

I don't like birds at all, especially not the swooping kind that tend to like to be around people at beaches and resort pools.

It's easy to be grateful when facing no adversity. On the other hand, those can be the times that I most often forget to stop and be thankful.

It's dumb to have a bad cold on a Florida vacation; to blow my nose while sitting by the pool or lounging on the beach just feels wrong.

Pondering Things in My Heart

2010-12-26T18:14:00.002-06:00

There are a few things I've been pondering lately as we celebrate Christmas...

I've thought a lot about what it would have been like to raise Jesus. A literally perfect child. If you were his parent, would you feel unnecessary? Was he a perfect baby? Is "Away in a Manger" right when it says, "No crying he makes?" Did he learn everything easily and early? I would assume he never whined or fought with his siblings, right? Did he seem odd to his parents? Did they wonder what to do with him? They knew he was Jesus--angels told them at conception, then announced his birth to shepherds, then a star led wise men to find their Baby King. Did they know what that meant? Did they doubt its truth on those days when Jesus was just acting like a regular kid? Did they have a clue what pain awaited them--and him? He sounds like both the easiest and most difficult child to parent to me. I wish I could have known him and seen what it was really like.

I loved Third's Christmas Eve service and the reminder it offered that Christmas is only the beginning of an amazing, sacrificial chain of events that led to our ultimate redemption through one perfect God-man, our Savior Jesus Christ. It's unfathomable that this tiny baby born in a stinky stable to a 12- or 13-year-old girl would be God's entrance into our world. Christmas is so much more than one day or a short season in our year. It's part of The Story. A Story we all get to be part of thanks to Jesus arriving as a baby in a humble stable.

And I've just been feeling pretty grateful. Our last year hasn't been without its pain--whose has? But we are blessed. Our whole family has kept their jobs all year--my mom even found a new one and my sister has been able to keep working some, even though she lost her job last year. I have a husband I truly love being with and sharing life with, and I love him. The awesome thing: he loves me too, unconditionally--boy, am I thankful for that! I have a son who delights me. He's healthy, energetic, full of life, funny, smart, sometimes naughty, and being his mom is the favorite role of my life. We have a warm home, small but cozy, and best of all, it feels like home. I have a baby growing inside me, a healthy pregnancy, and the excitement of adding to our family. I have friends that stick by me, even when distance or busyness separates, friends who encourage my faith, laugh with me, cry with me and love me when it is undeserved. I have a job where I feel valued, I enjoy what I do and I am not only encouraged but challenged in my faith. I don't mean to get sappy. Sometimes I just need to say it outloud, you know. Gratitude is a powerful thing.

That's all for now. I'll keep pondering...

Funny Mason-isms

2010-12-22T14:42:00.002-06:00

Here are a few funny things Mason has said over the past week:

For Christmas last weekend he got a new "remote patrol car."
His Thomas trains connect to each other with "magmets."
We watched a Christmas movie on Sunday night--the "Polar Getspress."
Santa lives at the "North Cold."
We sat down for lunch yesterday. Mason looked at Brent and said, "So, how was your work?" Wonder where he's heard that before?!

Bye-Bye, Bah!

2010-12-17T13:51:00.004-06:00

Today is the day. It's the day that Mason's "bah" is gone forever. His beloved pacifier that got us through those baby days, was always enjoyed upside down, and has continued to accompany Mason faithfully at naptime and bedtime for 3 years must go. We've been prepping him for this day when he would be three, a "big boy," and wouldn't need it anymore. And thankfully so far our big boy is handling it all like a big boy!

This morning I got out the envelope and wrote the address for the Pacifier Repair Shop on it. Mason excitedly told me that he would go get his "bah" out of his bed. He did. Then we wrote a short letter to the repairman, asking him to make the pacifier new for our new baby and to get it back to us by June so our baby could use it. We also were sure to note what a good big brother Mason was being by taking good care of the baby in this way.

Mason stuck his "bah" in the envelope, retrieving it just once to put it in his mouth one last time. Then he dropped it back in, said "Bye-bye, bah!", helped me seal the envelope and promptly said to me, "Let's go play in the living room, Mom!"

A little later he did decide it was a good idea to take it to the post office and get it mailed. He was disappointed when we got there and it wasn't the pacifier repair shop, but I told him that the repair shop is too far away, so we'd have to ask the mail lady to deliver it for us. That was okay, though he did mention his desire to visit the repair shop a couple more times. My sneaky post-it note filled the mail lady in on what was going, so she took our package with a smile and promised to deliver it. No comforting needed. We quietly and proudly left the post office.

We went to the bakery for a treat after that, which Mason actually wasn't interested in eating...still no comfort needed, I guess. We also went to a few stores, and that's when Mason found his desired replacement for "bah." We had mentioned to Mason that maybe he could pick something new to sleep with when it was time to get rid of his "bah," but he really hadn't been too interested in the concept. However, when he saw Waddles the Penguin at Hallmark, he changed his mind. "Mom, maybe this could be what I sleep with now," he said. For $7, I eagerly agreed that it was a great idea. We have been playing with Waddles pretty much since the moment of purchase. He apparently really enjoys being thrown.

So, all has gone amazingly so far. Not a tear shed, not a fit thrown. But, let's be honest, the real test is whether he will sleep without his "bah." But naptime went seamlessly. He jabbered and played for awhile, which is normal, and now all is quiet. I'm in shock about the ease of all this!

I'm so grateful that Mason has seen this as an exciting milestone rather than a terrible punishment! I thought it might be a major punishment for me, too! He has made me proud with the way he has handled it all. My big boy.

Couch Treasures?

2010-11-27T16:33:00.003-06:00

Today I went searching for my lost credit card. It has been lost for awhile, but I kept thinking it would turn up. Well, Brent leaves for Haiti in 4 days with our only credit card, so I decided it was time to get serious. I really couldn't think of where else to look--I'd checked all my jackets, pants, bags, piles, drawers. I had just looked under the couch without success, and I casually prayed, "Lord, I'm out of places, so really if you could just help me out, it would be awesome." I discovered it and several other things in the next place I looked.

I thought Brent had just vacuumed under the couch cushions, but I wasn't sure how thoroughly so I decided to give it a try. Both to my dismay and to my great pleasure, I discovered my credit card there! Why dismay, you ask? Because digging in the depths of my couch was both disturbing and disgusting. This was not just under my cushions. It was the crevices on the sides and back of the couch that swallow all those nasty little things you rarely miss (unless one of them is your credit card, perhaps). Mammoth dust bunnies accompanied with several pieces of dry cereal, a partially eaten strand of licorice, two cars, two pencils, a drumstick (that I forgot we even had), two pens, a raisin, 18 cents, a hair tie and a bobby pin, a candy wrapper, some stickers, lots of crumbs AND my credit card...and whatever made my hands smell after I was done digging.

Now I have my credit card and my couch is clean. I know you're glad I shared.

Crafty Girls

2010-11-15T14:32:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago my niece and I had a fun crafty afternoon. I've been meaning to post our craftiness, so here it is! It's fun to have nieces that like crafts!

IMPORTANT NEWS BULLETIN!

2010-11-10T22:39:00.004-06:00

We're excited to share that another Baby Gaulke is on the way! I'm due on June 10, and we're so excited to welcome a new baby into our family! I had about 3 weeks of constant nausea, but in the last week it has really improved, and I'm so grateful. I wish I had been more sympathetic to sick pregnant women in the past!

Of course Mason doesn't totally get it, but he is already giving the baby hugs and is excited about being a Big Brother. We're excited too!

(Above is the cookie Brent brought to announce the news at work. We decided to change up the Pella chocolate chip cookie tradition a bit by going with one big chocolate chip cookie!)

We love fall!!

2010-10-30T15:03:00.010-05:00

Our fall festivities over the past few weeks have included the Free Fall Fun Fest at the Van Roekel Farm, Carroll's Pumpkin Farm, a Pumpkin Carving Party and raking leaves at Grandpa & Grandma G's. The gorgeous weather has cooperated for every event. We love it!

Fall Fun Fest!

He looked so little on top of that big horse! He liked it though!

Carroll's Pumpkin Farm

with Grandma N. and Tori

Corn Angel

My little guy, lovin' life. I love this picture!

Tori is flying! I love this one too...

Punts' Pumpkin Carving Party

with our small group

Some nice pumpkin entries again this year.

Kyle's free-hand truck appropriately won top prize!

I, on the other hand, rely on stencils for anything I carve!

Here's this year's spider, selected by Mason.

Raking leaves with Grandpa & Daddy

Our Summer in Review: Part 3

2010-10-11T19:59:00.006-05:00

And our final installment brings us to August & September...

Celebrating Hope & Beauty

I planted zinnias along our fence this year, having no clue whether or not they would grow. I don't really know how to grow things! But they did grow with gusto and with them came an amazing blessing--butterflies everywhere! I spent a lot of time watching butterflies this summer and loving how they represent hope, life and beauty.

Swedesburg 2010

Our annual first weekend of August trip to Swedesburg brought a great time to connect with the Swenson clan and Brent's Swedish roots. Somebody even caught a shot of just Brent and me, which is rare these days!

Girls' Day!

Before Jared, Stacey, Will & Natalie returned to Haiti, we decided we needed a girls shopping day. We had fun shopping together, and I got to be Natalie's fill-in mom since Stacey ended up having to miss it. It's fun to shop for girls! These are my cute little ladies sporting some great looks at Claire's.

Iowa State Fair

Big machinery, a big slide, junk food, Clifford and fun, fun, fun! Mason really liked the Little Hands on the Farm site this year, and he LOVED the big slide. His giggles echoed all around as he and Daddy flew down the slide. Unfortunately, the giggles quickly turned to tears when he realized he only got to go down once!

A Hard Goodbye

Mid-August meant saying goodbye to Aunt Sarah as she packed up and headed to Southern California. Mason loves hanging out with Aunt Sarah & Miss Ashley, so he's ready to hop on a plane anytime to see them again. We are thankful that Sarah's move went well, and she seems to be settling in and really liking it there. But we're sad that she's far away! We did capture some really fun pictures on moving day!

Iowa Children's Museum

Brent's friend Scott offered us a free pass to the children's museum in Coralville, and it was a great gift! Mason loved shopping in the grocery store, flying the airplanes, learning to play parachute, driving the ambulance, farming and especially playing with the trains. A great place!

Blank Park Zoo with Tori

Once the "big kids" went back to school, my sister had the great idea to take our little people to the zoo in early September. Since everything is more fun with Tori, it was a great day. It was nice to be able to take our time and see whatever Mason and Tori liked. You'll see below they had differing opinions on the boa constrictor. These are not contrived expressions. Tori's hands went up to her mouth immediately upon seeing the gigantic slithering beast. Mason thought it was cool and wanted a closer look.

Horsing Around

Of course there's always time for horsing around--and Daddy makes an awfully good horsey. Yee haw!

Our Summer In Review: Part 2

2010-10-08T16:05:00.007-05:00

It still feels like summer today, but the gathering of boxelder bugs at our back door tells me it's fall. On this Indian Summer day, here are more highlights of the Gaulke summer...

July 2010

Camping Adventure
Mason had his first outdoor camping adventure in the Punts' back yard, complete with fishing, S'mores and sleeping all night in a tent!

Potty Prizes!
Mason was a potty-training champion in June, and we had a cool chart that culminated in a trip to the zoo. Although he completed it in June, we didn't get our trip to the zoo squeezed in until mid-July. He like the animals, but he was most excited about riding the train--not surprising! His Lightning McQueen "berella" was another favorite potty prize!

4th of July

A hot day for a parade--we even got to ride in the parade this year for the bank!

Lots of candy and fun with sparklers too!

More Adventures at Adventureland

My family's annual "fun-filled day" at Adventureland was a little later this year in order to include Mason's uncle, aunt and cousins from Haiti. Mason loved it again this year. We discovered the water park, which was very fun. I would guess Mason went down this green slide approximately 47 times. I don't think I'm exaggerating! He could have ridden the trucks for several more hours too, I think! By the end of the day, he was exhausted!

Boating

We had a few fun boating excursions with the Punts this year. Mason loves riding on the boat and being with his pal Chloe. It's so nice to be past his first years of screaming whenever we put his life jacket on or attempted to put him in the water! He loves it now! He and Daddy are boating buddies--Mommy stays in the boat as much as possible!

Special Drumsticks

A special drum corps was in town to perform at Pella High in July, so one night we rode our bikes to watch them practice. It was really cool--we wish we could have seen the real performance! One of the instructors saw us in the bleachers and brought Mason these cool drumsticks, instructing him to play along. Mason thought that was pretty amazing! We thought it was extremely kind.

Our Summer in Review: Part 1

2010-09-26T19:31:00.009-05:00

Fall officially started this week, so what better time to jump back in to the blog world and remember our busy summer, right? We enjoyed lots of family fun, special outings and celebrations with friends. We'll start at the very beginning (a very good place to start). Here's our June 2010 in review!

A Visit from "Aunt" Lisa

(Always welcome!)

A Visit to Double D Ranch with Friends
on a Sweltering Day!
(& a very brave Mason happy to feed the goats!)

Mowing with Daddy
A big help as you can see...but this is as helpful as you can be when you're still just a bit wary of the noise of the lawn mower!

Monkeying Around with his Monkey Face

Swimming, Swimming & More Swimming

Tori is always a welcome partner!

(except for when she's not)

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

A Portrait of Home

2010-06-11T08:36:00.004-05:00

Last weekend Monique, a girl who lives in town and just graduated from Pella High, stopped over with this amazing painting of our house. She told us she had done it for a painting assignment and wondered if we'd like to have it. We love it! Even though we have no plans to move for awhile, we've already been thinking how neat it will be to have this painting to always remember our first home. She has amazing talent, and we're thankful she shared it with us!

Singing

2010-05-25T11:22:00.004-05:00

Mason loves to sing and does it often, but whenever I try to catch it on video he gets silly and stops. Well, I finally got him to do it last week, so here's his rendition of "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" and a short version of "God Made Me," his current favorite from the church nursery.

First Splash of Summer

2010-05-25T10:54:00.004-05:00

With our current heat wave, Mason got to get out his swimming pool for the first time yesterday. (After seeing how small it was, Brent has now agreed that we can get Mason a larger pool for the summer. Yay!) Mason loved it and wanted to swim again this morning. Alas, this morning we have a monsoon instead! Mason did lots of "swimming" with the excellent skills he learned at swimming lessons. Though he's not exactly a "fish," I really can tell that he is feeling much braver and more comfortable in the water. Swimming lessons were not in vain! Now if we could just get him to do something other than the official "Cheese!" expression for pictures...are there lessons for that?!!

The Potty Train has left the station...

2010-05-25T10:41:00.004-05:00

The question now is whether the Potty Train will continue on its journey or return to the station for repairs! I decided to build off his one success on Sunday and just go for it with the potty training. Yesterday we had a banner day: 5 successful trips to the potty with just one accident and lots of excitement about the process. And, he even woke up dry from his nap and then went potty. I was pretty pumped, and Mason was too! Today, however, so far we've had two accidents, no successes, and no excitement about the process. Sigh. But I'm staying on track for now. We'll see which trend continues--the Potty Party Train or the Potty Train Derailment Project.

Either way, he really looks cute in his Thomas undies.

Potty!

2010-05-23T10:04:00.004-05:00

Announcing Mason Gaulke's first successful potty experience! It happened this very morning. It was just a little potty, but it felt like a big victory! Mason agreed when he received a big tasty sucker. He did first pee on the floor a little bit, but he must be starting to get the "feeling" because he stopped himself. Ah, the things you celebrate when you have a two-year-old! Nice work, buddy! Now the question is whether it's an isolated incident or the beginning of the end of diaper wearing at our house.

I hope he's thinking, "I'm going to go potty forever if I get a cool sucker like this!" (We'll break the news to him later about the "limited supply" of suckers.)

Enjoying a little sucker with his Cheerios. (And also being disobedient by sneakily, yet defiantly, putting his milk cup on his chair right after Mommy told him to put it down on the table. But hey, he went potty! That gets you a free pass for a few minutes, anyway.)

Tulip Time 2010

2010-05-09T10:06:00.005-05:00

Another Tulip Time is done. With it came lots of wind, lots of food, a parking lot in our yard, tons of help from grandpas and grandmas, a world record, our first time on the 21-man bike, more cheese races, a few sore muscles from dancing in wooden shoes so much (yes, sad but true), and total exhaustion. Good times! Last night I did say to Brent something like, "No more Dutchy stuff!" So, I think 3 days is plenty of fun for us!

Enjoy the slide show of Tulip Time fun!

A free slideshow design by Smilebox

Bringing Back the Blog for the Big 3-0!

2010-04-29T08:42:00.010-05:00

Brent turned 30 last week Tuesday, so we took the weekend to celebrate him. I couldn't let 30 go by without a memorable celebration!

After dropping off Mason for a sleepover at Grandpa & Grandma's, we headed to Jester Park to play the par 3 course there. I didn't get any pictures, but I should have because it was somewhat of a miracle day for me. I shot a 4 on at least 4 of the holes, only whiffed once, and only hit it on the ground once when I meant to hit it in the air. See, those don't seem like milestones to most people, but this was a banner day for me and my golf game. Even Brent was somewhat shocked, I think! He's an excellent coach and made me feel quite proud of myself. :) Anyway, less about me, more about Brent. It was really fun to golf together, and Brent rarely gets to get out on the course so we both really enjoyed it. Thankfully we just beat the rain, too!

Next we headed to the Iowa Hall of Pride and checked out their interactive displays. It's a neat place. Brent beat me at basketball, and I beat him at football (even though I was a Cyclone). We were totally bummed because we tried to do DDR but couldn't hear the music, so our dancing didn't really work out so well.

Before we realized DDR wasn't working...

Brent with the life-size statue of Nile Kinnick...who knew he was just a little guy! Go Hawks!

After a few errands and a stop for a little chips and salsa snack, we headed to our hotel to get dolled up for the evening's dress-up dinner at Macaroni Grill. Brent looked quite dapper in his suit and new shirt/tie combo. Fourteen of our friends met us there--an awesome turnout! Everyone looked great, and I think we all agreed that it was great fun to be out without the kids!

The Attractive Couples

The Birthday Boy and I with a delicious Macaroni Grill cake.

Make a wish!

The Birthday Girl! It was Amanda's 30th birthday on Saturday,
so we celebrated with her too!

We enjoyed some down time at our hotel Saturday night and Sunday, watching lots of House Hunters and Dirty Jobs. (We don't have cable so this is a real treat for us!) We had a great weekend. Brent told me he really enjoyed it--and that was the point. I think we both went home more tired than we started, but Brent felt celebrated and we had a great time together so it was a success!

Happy 30th, honey! I celebrate you and the awesome man you are!

Welcome home, cousins!

2010-02-20T12:47:00.004-06:00

We got to see Mason's cousins, Will & Natalie, a few times while they were home from Haiti for about 3 weeks. After the earthquake hit, my brother and his wife thought it best for them to come back to the States for awhile while they figured out how things would work in Haiti. It wasn't the reason we wanted them to come back, but it was so good to see them!

My brother & sister-in-law came back last week to pick up the kids and have some meetings. It was so great to see them too, even though their stay felt much too short as they were here less than a week. We got to spend an evening with my whole family at my parents' house, and they spent Tuesday afternoon with Brent, Mason and me at our house before they left to head back on Wednesday. Mason absolutely loved having Will & Natalie here to play. Big kids are the best as it is, and when they are cousins that you haven't seen for a long time, even better! they had such a great time, and I even let Mason skip his nap that day to enjoy it.

Thankfully they made it safely back to Haiti on Thursday. The visit was too short, but we'll take what we can get! It is amazing how good it feels to see them in person and have conversations face to face. I am really glad that Mason got to see them all, too. I think he needed a little reminder. Now he has been talking about Aunt Stacey and about how Will & Natalie are from Haiti, and he was really excited to see them on Skype today. They plan to be back for a few weeks again this summer. Think the snow will be melted by then?! As I told Stacey about our next impending snowstorm this morning, she bragged about her short-sleeved t-shirt and capris--how rude! :)

More Fun Times with Friends

2010-02-20T12:23:00.004-06:00

Mason has had lots of great times with friends lately. Thought we'd share some pictures.

Mason got to have a fun morning with his friend Malik one day last week. They're quite a pair. At one point they really got to giggling, and I couldn't help but laugh too! They thought it was an hilarious game when Malik chased Mason with the cool 80's sunglasses on. They also made farm fence necklaces, played a little music, raced the cars and watched Caillou together. Fun was had by all!

Putting on a show

Racing the cars

The Sunglasses Chase is on!

He also tried sledding at his friend Chloe's a few weeks ago. They have a great hill. It was naptime, so he wasn't as thrilled as I'd hoped he would be. And then after the sled flipped and his face was dragged through the snow a little, he was much less than thrilled!! Oops, Daddy. He did enjoy playing with Chloe's outside toys after that, though. Anything we can do outdoors at this point in the winter is a good thing, right?! And more snow coming...sigh. At least the kids still love it!

Chloe & her daddy ready to take the plunge!

Daddy pulling Mason before "the incident"

Fun Times

2010-02-09T11:13:00.004-06:00

Once again a belated blog post, but what have I missed really...I mean, just little events like Christmas. You know, nothing big. I was just looking back at past posts, and it does make me want to get better at keeping up again. It's so fun to be able to look back on those things, and I can honestly say that it made me a bit more grateful today to remember.

Here are a few pictures from the last week or so of some fun Mason has had playing with friend & cousin Tori.

Obviously they take after their mothers. They think working out is fun!
Tori may need a little work on her technique, though...or maybe she just really hates working out!

Tori found both of Mason's winter hats and decided they both needed to wear one.
She loved the hat and wore it for quite a long time! Mason's didn't last long. Guess it's not as fun to wear your own hat.

Happy Birthday, Mason!

2009-12-09T17:24:00.008-06:00

It's Mason's special day today! I can hardly believe he is two already! He told me a couple weeks ago that he wanted to go to Happy Joe's for his birthday, so we planned to go there today. But due to the blizzard we're having, we opted for a McDonald's supper last night instead. He loved it as always, and he even got to get ice cream since it was his birthday celebration.

Greasy yumminess with a side of chocolate milk. Happy Birthday!

The ice cream lid was actually better than the ice cream itself!

Although it has been a day of being indoors at home, we've done our best to make it special. Mason and I started our day with muffins and birthday candles. He blew out the candles many times! I made his fave, mac 'n' cheese, for lunch, and we're having another favorite, meatballs, for supper tonight. He also had his fill of his favorite movies and TV today (Bad Mom Award!). He opened his presents from Mommy & Daddy after Brent got home, and Daddy and Mason are currently playing a combination of Thomas trains and MegaBloks!

"Cheese!" Love those birthday muffins!

Aunt Tiff and his cousins called on Skype this morning to sing Happy Birthday. He loved that! He did his classic act of repeatedly yelling, "Hello!" into the camera, even long after we were disconnected. He also talked to Grandma Nikkel and Grandpa & Grandma Gaulke on the phone. He told Grandma Gaulke happy birthday. :)

He was also thrilled to hear them say "Happy Birthday, Mason!" several times over the radio today. Brent's parents sponsored a day of broadcasting on 107.1 in honor of Mason's birthday, so they announced it throughout the day. He thought that was way cool!

Like any good mother would, I tend to get a bit nostalgic on days like these. I've remembered several times the day we brought Mason home from the hospital. It was an ice storm that day, by the way! I remember just being overwhelmed by all that had happened in the previous 48 hours but thrilled to be the mommy of my Mason. And from the moment I met him, I couldn't imagine my life without him. No one can tell you how it feels to delight in your child until you have one. And Mason, you are my delight! I am in awe of all you learn each day, entertained by the funny things you say, and so proud of you! You are an amazing kid, full of life and joy! You make every day new for Mommy & Daddy, and we are so thankful for the life you bring to our home and our lives! Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Choo! Choo! Mason's 2! (Almost...)

2009-12-06T22:12:00.006-06:00

Sporadic blog lady is back! Maybe with Mason's birthday and Christmas this month I can manage to complete a couple posts...

Hard to believe, but Mason turns two this week! We celebrated him Friday night with family and friends. Of course, Mason opted not to take a nap on Friday, which made for some interesting moments by the end of the evening. He was deliriously tired by the time the party ended, so he topped off the night with a couple good 2-year-old fits. The poor kid was so exhausted!

All week poor Mason heard, "That's for the birthday party." He really was incredibly patient for an almost 2-year-old. At one point on Friday he ran into the kitchen and said both excitedly and matter-of-factly, "It's time for my birthday cake!" He had to wait a few more hours, and when the time came, he was too excited about all the action to eat much of anything. So much for having his favorite foods--noodles, strawberries, jello, cake and more. Hopefully the other guests enjoyed it all!

Mason got lots of great toys for his birthday. His favorite on Friday night was his new Mighty Machines Diggers & Dozers DVD. Once he opened that, he wouldn't put it down! He could watch Mighty Machines all day. But since that night I can honestly say that he has played with every single toy--they are all a big hit! Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us!

Children's Books=Weird

2009-10-02T08:44:00.003-05:00

Mason LOVES books. We probably read at least 8-10 books a day. Sometimes the same book a few times, but I still love it that he loves books. He's just starting to pretend a little, and I know that books can only grow his already active imagination.

But some of these children's books are just a bit strange. Can any other parent out there relate?

For example, I was reading Corduroy Goes to the Fire Station for the 8th time the other day, and it dawned on me that I was reading about a teddybear who was visiting the fire station with his class, comprised of a stuffed pink gingham bunny, a couple bears who are blue and purple, a doll and a bear teacher. On top of that, the firemen at the firestation were a mixture of animals and people. In one picture a human woman is sitting at the table playing cards with a dog, an alligator is cooking spaghetti, a monkey is lifting weights and a bear is sitting on the couch reading the paper. Mason thinks nothing of this. He loves this book with its fire engines and flaps to lift, but I must say I find the concept strange.

Then there's I'll Love You Forever. I know many are familiar with this book. It's a classic children's book about how a mother's love never ceases through her child's whole life. But honestly it creeps me out a little. I mean, this mother is sneaking into her adult son's house in the middle of the night using a ladder at his window! It started to get a little weird for me when she was sneaking into her teenage son's room and rocking him "back and forth and back and forth and back and forth," but when she drove across town with her ladder, I got a little chill. I know, I know, I'm completely missing the sentiment of the book. Rather than noting the blessing of being a mom for life, I'm tucking away the lesson, "Keep appropriate boundaries with your children!"

Well, those are just two examples, but I know there are many more out there! The world of children's literature is a fascinating and fun and sometimes strange place. I have moments that I really hope Mason won't pick a certain book because it just doesn't make sense to me. Thankfully it's not about me... :)

If you've got any other weird chidren's book examples, I'd love to hear them! Happy Friday!

Thomas is a hit!

2009-09-28T22:02:00.010-05:00

Due to Mason's current love for Thomas, Grandpa & Grandma Nikkel took us to spend the "Day Out with Thomas" at the Scenic Valley Railroad in Boone on Sunday. I'd heard mixed reviews of the event, including several people that said the train ride wasn't too cool, so I just wasn't sure what to expect--especially from a 1-year-old boy. Thankfully Mason loved it and had a great time!

We left from church and drove through Arby's for a bite on our way to Boone. Just as I'd hoped, Mason quickly zonked out for a nap. Although it was only about 45 minutes of sleep, I know it saved us from some ugly fit-throwing!

We got there in time to peruse the activities a little, see Thomas and snap a few pictures, watch Sir Topham Hatt from a distance (Mason was just fine keeping his distance!), and hop aboard the train that Thomas was "pulling." I must agree with the reviews: the train ride was definitely the dumbest part of the whole event! Mason was actually pretty bored; we had to get out the snacks. It felt like we were barely moving, and aside from some Thomas music playing overhead, there was nothing at all fun going on in that train! Hopefully older kids thought it was cool to be on the train because it was definitely lost on us! Mason acted fine and sat nicely, but he was simply not enthused (none of us could blame him).

After the train ride, Mason played in the straw maze a couple times, wandered through the petting zoo, played with trains and tracks in the Imagination Station for long time, got a James tattoo, jumped through the blow-up train tunnel, jammed and danced with the railroad singers, and rode a trolley car (which was equally as boring as the Thomas train but thankfully much shorter and with more leg room!). There were only a couple things we didn't do. I was impressed with the range of activities and thankful that so many were age-appropriate for Mason as well as for older kids. Mason really had a great time!

Mason was really into the music. He even skipped the limbo to keep on drumming! :) Here's a little video...

We made a final quick stop at the gift shop where Grandpa & Grandma bought Mason a Thomas train whistle. I thought the whistle was a fine idea because Mason really couldn't blow it very loud. Well, that was yesterday--today he has practiced enough to learn to blow it loud and clear!

After a stop at DQ, we were headed home from our day with Thomas. Mason told us several times on the way home that he was "all done" with being in his carseat, so my mom and I ended up doing a quite impressive Sunday school song sing-a-long to entertain him. Mason was asking for encore performances right and left! If you'd like to book us for your next birthday party, let me know!

When we got home last night, we got Mason bathed, being careful not to wash off his James tattoo, dressed him in his Thomas PJ's, and realized that in the excitement of Thomas, he'd barely eaten a thing all day. Two hot dogs, half a banana and some cottage cheese later he was off to bed! But wait...I'd left the Thomas whistle downstairs, and that just wouldn't do. So, after retrieving the whistle and practicing with it a few times, Mason was finally off to bed! This morning when I went to get him out of bed, he already had his sleeve pushed up. He immediately pointed to his arm and yelled, "James!" then followed it with, "I go whistle too!" We had to immediately leave his room to find the train whistle, which he can now blow like a champ LOUDLY. Thankfully he has an extremely tolerant and patient mother that can handle such things (or just hide them!). :)

A tip to parents: If we had it to do over again, we'd only buy tickets for a couple people instead of all 5 of us. You only need your ticket for the train ride, and at $18 a piece, it's not worth it! You can enter and do the other activities without a ticket. I would have been content to let Mason and Brent or Mason and Grandpa & Grandma ride the train while the rest of us waited.

As adults, we did brainstorm a few ways they could make the event better while we were there, including spicing up the train ride,but overall it was a fun place for kids, especially those who love Really Useful engines. :) Thanks to Grandpa & Grandma Nikkel for a fun day!

A Summer Favorite

2009-09-08T15:52:00.003-05:00

Well, without warning I took a summer break from our blog. In fact, I didn't really even know I was going to do it myself! But when life feels full, there are certain things that must go away. Since Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, I thought I'd jump back in--though I just can't promise how consistent I'll be. Still, it's such a fun way to record life and share with friends and family.

I'm starting simple to ease myself back in. :) This is my current favorite picture from the summer. I tend to just look at it and chuckle. After babysitting Mason for us, Brent's parents stayed over one Friday night because we were headed to a family reunion together the next day. As Grandpa Gaulke got ready for the day, he did his usual spikey hair routine, and Mason thought it was something he needed as well. They are quite a pair! Mason's facial expression just cracks me up!

Mr. Sandman

2009-05-14T22:45:00.004-05:00

Brent used his afternoon off today to do something very exciting--especially if you're Mason. We now have a sandbox! We already had to hose Mason off, empty sand out of his pockets and realize we didn't get it all as sand trickled out of his diaper when we changed it. I'm sure most days this summer will include a similar rundown of activities. Baths before bedtime are no longer optional. Welcome to summer...welcome to the world of little boys! Will & Natalie, Mason's cousins, were at our house to share in the inauguration of the sandbox. All were filthy, all were joyous. :)

Tough Decisions

2009-05-02T23:11:00.004-05:00

Mason's toughest decision of the day was which lawn mower to play with! We brought both of his mowers out from the basement today, and he was pretty excited. It's tough when your birthday is in December, and you have to wait 5 months before you can play outside with your cool toys! He really loves to see a real lawn mower, but if it gets too close, it becomes somewhat like the vacuum in his eyes--slightly too loud and scary.

As he played, I heard Mason say "lawn more" about 500 times today, and I loved it every time. Here's a little video so you can hear it too! (You may have to turn up the volume--sadly, my voice is loud and clear, but Mason's is not!)

A Momentous Day for Brentous!

2009-04-20T14:57:00.006-05:00

It has been well over a month since I got this thing updated due to my inability to manage all that's going on in life! But today requires that I get back on track because it is a BIG day for my hubby. It's Brent's 29th birthday AND first day at his new job at Marion County Bank! Happy Birthday and Congratulations, Honey! From the report at lunch, the first day was off to a great start. Hopefully we can end it well with our birthday celebration dinner and some yummy cake!

Here are some birthday pictures from our celebration with Brent's parents and sister on Saturday night as well as a "first day of work" photo. :)

Who wouldn't be this excited about an ice cream cake?!

Look at that spiffy guy in a shirt and tie!

Nickels for Nikkels & Hotcakes for Haiti

2009-03-14T10:49:00.006-05:00

Okay, so I promise not to use my blog solely for information about my brother and his upcoming move to Haiti with his family. But since it's pretty HUGE stuff with so many implications, spiritual, emotional and financial, I think it's worth sharing when I can. If you ever have any questions, want more information or would even want Jared & Stacey to come speak to a group you're involved with, please let me know! Soon Stacey, Tiff and I will have this kind of info up on a blog specifically for Many Hands for Haiti. I'll let you know when that happens!

Fundraising is in full swing for the Nikkels as they prepare for their June move to Haiti. Through the Nickels for Nikkels campaign, we are currently trying to raise $30,000 so they can purchase a new truck, appropriate for the Third World conditions. We are asking those at our church and in our community to bring their spare change each week to help us make this goal. (Cash and checks are also being accepted.)

We have been asked some excellent questions about this $30,000 truck Jared & Stacey need. The truck is a Toyota Hilux, a model that is actually not even available in the United States and is designed for the poor conditions and rough terrain of the Third World. I want to take a minute and answer a couple of these questions because they are valid questions that I, too, might be asking if I didn't know the situation.

Why does it need to be a new truck? After all, many of us aren't driving around in new trucks, and $30,000 is a lot of money!

A key to understanding the need for this truck is to realize how awful the roads are in Haiti. It can literally take hours just to go 10 or 20 miles, and you may even have to stop and move a tree out of the way or ford a stream on the way if it has rained a lot! For this reason a truck takes a beating! They looked into the option of buying a used vehicle, but after being driven in these conditions, a used vehicle isn't worth much. Jared & Stacey need a reliable vehicle as they will likely be offering transportation to mission teams and Haitians as well as making trips for supplies, etc.

But why a Toyota? How about a Ford or something less expensive? The American car industry sure could use a boost!

There is a Toyota dealership in Port-au-Prince, so they can purchase the vehicle right there in Haiti as well as get parts when needed (and they will likely be needed!). To buy another model would require shipping a car to Haiti, which would be very expensive, and maintenance would be more difficult as well.

In Haiti, when you ask how many people fit into someone's truck, the answer is always "one more!" So picture this truck with the bed full of people! Having a reliable truck will allow Jared & Stacey to help many people out with transportation and be better equipped for their mission.

If you would like to give to this cause, collection containers are at Third Reformed Church and Gosselink's Christian Book Store, or you can bring your donation to Marion County Bank. If you feel led to donate and just want to mail a donation, checks can be made payable to Community Coalition for Haiti (CCH), the non-profit organization the Nikkels are working closely with, and mailed to Many Hands for Haiti, PO Box 204, Pella IA 50219. Please put "Nikkels in Haiti" in the memo line. Otherwise, I am happy to collect your donations and route them to the right spot as well. So, redeem those pop cans or empty that change jar! :) With just three weeks to go, we're only at about $5,000, so there is much work left to be done!

As a celebration of what God is doing through Nickels for Nikkels, we are holding Hotcakes for Haiti, a celebration breakfast, on Sunday, March 29, at Third Reformed Church. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee will be served from 7:30am-12:30pm. We will be taking freewill donations to be added to the Nickels for Nikkels total.

A Hotcakes for Haiti breakfast is also being organized in Sully in early April. It will likely be Saturday, April 4, so watch for details.

Thanks for considering this cause!

Missionaries

2009-03-09T16:27:00.004-05:00

It's an interesting concept that has a completely different connotation for me than it used to: being a missionary. Growing up, most of the missionaries I encountered were ones that visited our church when they were on furlough, and, to be frank, I found them to be different, disconnected, even odd. I had little understanding then and never got to know any of them well, but my guess is that those were actually probably pretty accurate descriptions. I mean, don't you have to be uniquely different to heed the call to move to a different country, give your life to people very different than yourself? You would get disconnected from your "homeland" in many ways--you'd have to.

I'm not claiming to really know what it's like to be a missionary at all. I've just been faced with thinking about it because my brother and his wife, Jared & Stacey Nikkel, are about to become missionaries in Haiti. Lord willing, they'll move in June 2009 with their two children (ages 6 & 4). I never thought I'd know and love missionaries so much and be connected so closely to these "odd ducks" willing to exchange one culture for another very different one. God is surprising, isn't He?

The journey in receiving and discerning this call has been one I've had the immense privilege of being part of, from intentional times of listening and discerning prayer together more than a year ago to creating brochures, logos and t-shirts for the cause of fundraising and launching them on this new path. I have been significantly touched by the work God has done in the heart of my brother Jared. I wish you could all hear his testimony, but the fact is that none of you would hear it like I do, like his little sister who has known him almost 30 years, fought with him, laughed with him, been tortured by him, ignored him--you get the idea. The change is deep, lasting. I know that because it's not just words; his actions are following. You don't move to Haiti with your wife and 2 young children on a whim. I'm so proud of him. So thankful to God. So sad to see them go.

So I'm not sure if any of this is making sense, but I hope you're starting to see the mixed bag of emotions this is for me and for our whole family. This process that started nearly 2 years ago for Jared & Stacey has drawn us so much closer, and I'm so thankful for that. Yet now they will physically be far away. I see the vision God has given them, the passion they have for Haiti. That makes me so excited to be part of the campaign to get them there. I love working with Stacey on projects, getting to talk with her often, using my gifts in communication to play my small part in this Kingdom advancement. But in the end I will say goodbye to my family, who are also my friends. I will miss a sweet and hilarious niece and nephew.

Don't get me wrong. This is the right thing. They've heard clearly, and they are obeying God's call. Other family members and I have been there to hear with them. We know they're called to this. And in all honesty, I never would have thought of it, but they are the perfect people. Only God has such an imagination. He sees that Jared & Stacey are his "secret weapons." He knows that they are willing to take risks, they have a crazy variety of skills, they both are great at filling in wherever there's a need, they don't have a lot of preconceived notions. (He knows more than that, but I'm not Him...) Is there sacrifice? You bet there is! But when God is driving, you know you're on the right road. And thankfully He's right there in the car to work through the pain of the sacrifice. And amazingly enough, He is also right here at home to work through it with those left behind.

This is a long post. I'm sure I've lost a few along the way. I wanted you to have some background because we are right in the middle of fundraising and preparing to send them off in June, so I will likely be using my blog to tell about those opportunities as well. Their ministry is called Many Hands for Haiti. God certainly works in mysterious ways, and I would love to get Jared & Stacey's story out to as many as will hear it. Watch for more information!

Mr. Clean

2009-03-03T10:36:00.004-06:00

Feather duster: $.97

Windshield squeegee: $2.50

The sheer joy of a "dusting" 1-year-old: priceless

Mason has a new favorite pasttime, and last night it reached a new level. He has loved to watch me sweep and mop for a long time, but now he is taking matters into his own hands. A couple weeks ago I bought him a windshield squeegee at Walmart, which just happens to look exactly like a miniature mop--the perfect size for Mason! He has been doing his share of mopping. In the middle of all this, he also developed an affection for washing things in the sink, especially if he gets to use the dish wand. Well, we were back at Walmart yesterday and needed a bit of a distraction, so I let him carry around a cheap feather duster. It was less than a dollar, so I figured I could splurge on that one. Last night Brent swept up the floor after supper with the mini broom and dustpan, and Mason couldn't wait to get his hands on it. So he walked around the whole evening with the feather duster in one hand and the little broom or dustpan in the other. And I mean the WHOLE evening. We couldn't even pry them out of his little hands at bedtime, so we gave up...see slideshow. :) He's for hire if anyone needs a little tidying up! (Just don't ask him to use the vacuum...)

Thank you for...

2009-02-13T14:27:00.007-06:00

As winter rears its ugly head again today, I'm trying to be grateful that we had such gorgeous weather rather than lament that it has to go away. After all, spring in February is an unexpected gift!

We're thankful, Lord, for days that give us hope that spring is coming again!

Thank you that we only had to wait until February to take a first ride in Mason's birthday wagon...and for a daddy willing to pull.

Thank you for a neighborhood full of kids out to play.

Thank you for a day to wear no winter coats, hats or mittens.

Thank you for melting the snow so that Mason could find sticks again (and try to eat them)!

Thank you for a new patio to play ball on.

Thank you that when we fall, You always help us up!

Thank you for keeping our camera safe when I left it outside on the patio all night...and it rained.

Thank you for the gift of time to play outside and for the way it refreshed us all.

Thank you for giving us the variety of four seasons.

Thank you, Lord, that, summer or winter, your mercies are new every morning! Oh how I need that!

Dear Mason...

2009-01-24T13:42:00.002-06:00

Hi, my buddy boy! I have to be honest--Mommy is feeling tired and overwhelmed after a long week. I've loved being with you, but it's hard when Daddy isn't home! That's why I'm so thankful that last week I started writing some things down to remind me how special our times are together.

It's not your birthday or any special occasion. It's just that several times in the past couple weeks I've thought about how pleased I am with you...how just absolutely tickled to death I am with who you are...how completely overjoyed I am to be your mama. So, I decided I wanted to tell you about it.

I love it that...

Last Sunday at lunch you reached out to hold Mommy's hand when we prayed, even though it was short-lived. I want you to be a man of prayer someday and to know that you can always be in conversation with God.
When we picked you up at Grandpa & Grandma G's last Saturday, you ran over just to give me a kiss. It was such a sweet surprise.
You sometimes bend down to see eye-to-eye with something or to look under a chair or table for a toy. It's just adorable to see your little body squatting down like that.
You say "wow!" and "whoa!" over and over again each day because it reminds me that the world is an amazing place to discover, full of good gifts.
You do funny things that simply make me laugh, like suck on your paci upside down, try to sit on your cousin Tori like a riding toy, always choose the smallest space to squeeze through, fake burp, make tons of faces, always want to see yourself on the camera after I take your picture...I'm sure there are more!
You say "ball" hundreds of times each day because I always want to know what your favorite things are.
Your feet make that pitter-patter sound on the floor as you are busy, busy, busy. Sometimes I can't believe how fast it is--like a machine gun! Not only is it just plain funny, but it makes me thankful that you are a healthy, active boy.
You serve as the "welcoming committee" at the dr. office, library or the grocery store, saying "hi" to everyone or standing as close as you can to them and smiling until they notice you. I pray you'll always make people feel comfortable and bring joy to those around you.
Every day you learn new things and say new words. I have a front row seat to your discovery of the world. For example, I love it that the other day you said, "Turtle!" and Mommy didn't even know you knew that word. Life with you is full of good surprises.
You always notice when Mommy is wearing earrings and say "pretty, pretty" (ti,ti).
You love books and music. You've got great dance moves; Daddy loves the "Sumo Stomp" best. You're such a curious guy and a fast learner! I'm proud of you.
You're my "right-hand man" when it comes to sweeping the floor (but NOT vacuuming!). The way you always end up in my dirt pile helps me keep perspective and remember that the floor is clean enough for now. There will be lots of years to clean the house (too many!) but only a few that you'll want to be by my side while I sweep.
You are determined and can tell me what you want. Oh, I know it will bring its challenges, but I love seeing new parts of who you are.
You still have your "pigeon coo" laugh when you're in awe of something--and I love it that you're in awe of so many things!
My hug, or just my presence, brings you comfort. Wow. What an honor that is.

Buddy, I'm not joking around when I tell you that being your mom is a dream come true for me. It's not always an easy life, but you bring me such joy! Even on the hard days, this is the journey I want to be on. Sometimes I can't believe that I'm actually at the point in my life where I have a "you"! God has granted my heart's desire, first through Daddy and now through you, Precious Peanut. I thought someday the newness of all this might wear off, but my heart still skips a beat to be reunited with you after a day apart...or even just after your nap! My mouth will always turn up with a grin for you and your antics, even on the worst day. Your little voice is a treat to my ears. I'm so excited to be your mom!

I love you so much, Mason! Just thought you should know that I'm still in awe of you.

Missing Daddy!

2009-01-21T22:55:00.004-06:00

Daddy, we're missing you while you're gone this week! We're glad you're having a good business trip but can't wait to get you back! Mason wanted to tell you all about his Wednesday...hopefully you've got Wi-Fi again! We love you!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Good deals for kids' clothes!

2009-01-21T15:01:00.005-06:00

Just a quick note for other moms on a couple good end-of-winter deals I've come across...

Target: I was there on Saturday, and they had tons of kids' shoes on clearance for less than $5/pair! I got Mason a pair for right now and three more pairs for later on, plus I got a pair for my niece, all for $20!

Children's Place: I just got some things online for next winter for Mason on clearance, and now they've marked things down even more. Some sizes are scarce, but there are great deals to be found if you can find your size.

*Update: Check Tiff's comment for an additional 15% off code at CP.

I'm sure there are many other deals right now as winter clothes are cleared out for spring, but these are the ones that I've been excited to discover. I love a bargain!

Fun with Cousins!

2009-01-10T14:31:00.004-06:00

My nieces, Natalie and Tori, have been over to play a few times lately, and I got a few good shots of their sweet smiling faces. I have always loved my role as Aunt Bethy and still love it when I get to have some "aunty time" with any of my nieces or nephews!

Tori is almost 8 months old and on the verge of crawling. She is so sweet and smiley I just want to eat her up! Mason likes her too, still calling her "baby" even though soon the 5 months that separate them in age will seem like nothing at all. He also likes her pacifier and can often be found trying to steal it or with it in his own mouth if Mommy or Aunt Tiff is not paying enough attention. He better watch it because one day soon she'll be able to get him back!

How can you not love this little face?!

Natalie is four and a bundle of energy. She is such a smart little girl with an amazing imagination. Her current favorite name is Teresa if what she names her dolls and other toys is any indication. She loves to tell me what Mason is saying when she's here. Oddly enough, it's often what she is thinking and sounds very little like what Mason actually said. :) She is also the queen of getting song lyrics just a little bit wrong, which provides many great stories and laughs. (And don't try to convince her that she's wrong either--it makes sense to her!) For example, this Christmas she asked her mom what "tar" is; when her mom asked why she wanted to know, she explained that it was from the song, "We three kings of orien tar." And it's "Don't tell it on the mountain," contrary to what you might have thought before. She kills me.

Lots of static electricity in the ball pit!

Christmas 2008

2009-01-10T12:19:00.004-06:00

It has been so long since I posted, I'm having trouble deciding what to choose to post about. Is it too late for a Christmas post? Nah! I want to at least give a glimpse of our Christmas fun, even though it is behind us now. (And, by the way, I can't believe it has already come and gone!)

The weather took its toll on our Christmas plans a few times this year, rescheduling two of our events and giving us a surprise overnighter at my parents' house in Sully on a very, very foggy night. We finally finished celebrating on January 3 with the Nikkel clan (my dad's side). We really had a great Christmas. All of us stayed healthy, we enjoyed time with our families, Mason was so much fun to watch, and we thoroughly enjoyed having Deb & Lisa, two of my college friends, stay for a couple days. We're thankful for health, safe travel, many thoughtful gifts, and the love of family and friends!

I decided a slide show was the best way to sum it all up. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Mason's Snow Day

2008-12-19T14:29:00.003-06:00

I don't mind snow (for awhile), but I'm bummed about our most recent storm. We were supposed to head to Algona tonight or tomorrow morning to be with Brent's extended family for Christmas, and instead we're staying home with nothing to do. It's a weird year because now we have no Christmas celebrations at all until the day after Christmas! But since I no longer have to pack to be gone for the weekend, today I decided we'd make the best of it and go outside to try Mason's new sled. He was less than excited about the seemingly endless process of getting ready to go outside--from diaper change to snow pants to boots to coat, hat and mittens--but once we got out there, it was all worth it! We took many laps around the yard, barked back at the neighbor dog and attempted to walk around on the crunchy ice/snow. Not only did Mason enjoy it, but it was quite a workout for me! We were out there for about 45 minutes. It was really fun! It had been a long time since this girl had played in the snow! And anything is more fun when I know my son is loving it too.

Bundled up and ready to play!All strapped in to his new sled.

Barking like the neighbor dog, who got excited when he saw our sled whizzing by!

Wishing he could get back in and ride just a little bit longer. Another day, Buddy!

It's Official...

2008-12-09T22:29:00.010-06:00

Mason William is ONE! Though the day was pretty normal with a mess of toys, reading a million books, enforcing naptime and filling sippy cups, I found myself treasuring the moments a bit more today. Sounds so cheesy, but I really did! It's hard for me to believe that Mason is already a year old and that he has grown and changed so much so quickly. And the amazing thing is that every stage has been so incredible--when I stop to think about it, I'm struck by the honor it is to get to watch Mason develop, grow and change. I'll stop gushing about it now, but I wish I could somehow express the joy it brings me! It's impossible...

To celebrate our big boy's special day we went to McDonald's for supper where he enjoyed a cheeseburger and a yummy fruit and yogurt parfait that he got to eat with his very own spoon. That alone made his birthday as he is currently in love with utensils. Then we came home and let him open his gift from us, which was a Tonka dump truck and front loader hand-picked by Daddy. He fulfilled all our hopes by his "oohs" and "ahs" and the way he stepped back from them as if he were so in awe he couldn't take it all in. (Christmas will be fun!) As the grand finale, Mason got to see Aunt Sarah tonight. She stopped to give him his gift, which was a great little wooden wagon full of wooden blocks. Again, he cooed and oohed as he carefuly unwrapped it.

He was having such a good time...until he tripped on some wooden blocks and hit his chin on the back of his new dump truck! Poor guy was injured by his own birthday gifts. I'm telling you there is not enough room in our home for all these toys!

We love you and celebrate your life, Mason!

Some pictures of our day...

Enjoying his time with the parfait and the spoon.

This birthday gets a thumbs up! (Still enjoying the spoon.)

When we asked Mason how old he was, this is what we got...we're working on it. :)
Considering his beverage options...

and the Happy Meal toy selection. Ooh, tough choices.
What's in there? Peeking in as he opens his new Tonka machines.

Riding in the back of his new dump truck (before the injury).

Party Time!

2008-12-07T17:40:00.008-06:00

Mason's first birthday is on Tuesday, so we celebrated with family and friends on Saturday night with a "Things That Go" party. Mason had no idea that we were all there for him (though when you're one, you think pretty much everything is just for you!), but he had so much fun along with all the other kids. My two goals for the party were to 1) celebrate Mason and 2) provide a place for kids to have fun. I'm thankful to say that both were achieved!

Mason had his very own train cake, and he was not at all shy about digging in (see video). In fact, he either ate or destroyed every last bit of it. He also got many great gifts, including a big red wagon, a winter sled, lawn mowers, race cars, a truck, a tractor, a laughing/tickle-me Elmo and books. He loves them all! Now they are covering our living room, and we've got to do some toy sorting, especially with Christmas coming right up!

I want to say a HUGE thank-you to everyone who came and to all our family who helped immensely by bringing food and helping with clean-up and set-up. We felt blessed by having so many there who love our son and who are willing to help and support us. THANK YOU!

We also used the special occasion of Mason's first birthday for his dedication. It was a special time for us to dedicate Mason back to the Lord, ask for the help of our community and our Lord in raising him, and pray for Mason as he grows both physically and spiritually. It was really significant for us, so I'll write more about it in a separate post.

Enjoy these pictures of our party!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

1-Year Photos

2008-12-07T17:30:00.003-06:00

Mason got his 1-year pictures taken on Friday, and he had a great time. We got photos that truly capture Mason in his essence! He really liked the photographer and thought she had tons of fun stuff to play with. I wasn't sure how it would go with him constantly "on the move," but he did great and we got lots of fun and natural Mason shots. To see them all, click the link below and use "mason" as the password.

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/ThumbAccess.aspx?e=4336351

Happy Anniversary Back!

2008-11-20T14:24:00.002-06:00

Thanks for your sweet note, Brent! I'm thankful for our four years together--in some ways I can't believe it has already been 4 years and in others I feel like we've always been together. Good stuff.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

2008-11-20T09:05:00.003-06:00

Today marks 4 years of marriage for Beth and I. I wanted to write and tell Beth how much I love her and how much she means to me. Beth you are the person that I want to share life with and grow old together. You are a great mom and a great wife. I LOVE YOU!

Turkey Time!

2008-11-17T15:25:00.011-06:00

And no, I don't mean Thanksgiving! I mean Mason, our little turkey. While he is a pretty good little boy, he is getting a little too sassy for his own good at times--and not even one year old yet! For example, he likes to laugh when we tell him no, look right at me and start doing what I just told him not to do, and take partially chewed food and throw it on the floor when he's full. I have to admit that sometimes I have to fight off laughter (or hide it) because it's sometimes amusing to see his little methods of pushing mommy's buttons. However, mostly it fills me with fear because it means I must start learning how to discipline! But like everything else we've learned in the past year, I know it will come one day at a time through prayer and wise counsel of those who have gone before us. Boy am I thankful for that this Thanksgiving...and I'm so thankful for my little turkey too!

There's not a lot new with the Gaulkes the last couple weeks, and Mason mostly moves too quickly these days to catch anything on camera. But I did manage to catch a few glimpses of his daily activities, including a video of him saying one of his favorite words.

The car seat is fun as long as we don't try to strap him in it!

He loves Mommy's brush. Unfortunately today it got stuck in his hair when he was trying to brush it--must have had some jelly in it from breakfast!

Some dirty clothes and a spatula...is there more to life?

Quack-quack!

Wheaton Weekend

2008-11-06T21:38:00.004-06:00

Last weekend we got to go see my awesome friend Lisa at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. Unfortunately, it was at the end of a long week of Mason being sick and me being sleep deprived, but fortunately we still had a good time. (Thankfully Lisa is also a very gracious friend!) Mason finally acted like himself again Saturday afternoon, which was so great to see and made the last half of the weekend even more fun than the first! Thanks for your hospitality and a great weekend, Lis!

We went to Cosley Zoo, a free rehabilitation zoo in Wheaton. Mason liked seeing the animals and even quacked at the ducks. (Quack is currently his favorite word.) He also enjoyed things like rope fences, the large wheels on a cart and being allowed to run free--I guess the animals were just an added bonus to him! :) It was great just to spend time with Lisa. The slide show highlights the gorgeous fall scenery in Wheaton, the zoo and the fun we had together. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pain & Privilege

2008-10-28T15:56:00.002-05:00

Mason has been sick this week. His first ear infection--and really his first sickness beyond a few sniffles. The poor guy has fallen asleep on my lap more times in the last couple days than in the last six months combined! (Although I hate that he's sick, I am thoroughly enjoying the cuddling.) I'm thankful that this afternoon he has taken a huge turn for the better, and he's toddling around again.

Over the last couple days while Mason hasn't been well, I've been noticing something about being a mom. There have been several times that I have cleared my throat or coughed, hoping that it would clear Mason's throat. Or I've found myself taking a deep breath, hoping it will help him catch his breath after a bout of coughing. As moms, I think it's just innate that we want to fix things for our kids. And it's painful not to be able to do that, even when he just has a minor ear infection. I think of other parents I know or have read about and wonder how they can even handle the ongoing illness or the loss of a child. So I've been thinking about the pain of being a mom, a pain that will never go away as long as the world isn't perfect for our kids.

On the other hand, I've been noticing something else too. As Mason has needed his mommy to cuddle him, I've loved to be the one to comfort him. And I've thought of the privilege it is to be the one (along with Brent) to be chosen to love Mason. As his mom, I get the gift of knowing him better than anyone else. I wouldn't be anywhere else!

So that's my musing for the day, the pain and privilege of being a mom. I guess that's what happens when you love someone so deeply. (I know other moms--and dads--can relate!) I'm so thankful for the gift of Mason and the role of being a mommy to our boy. It's a high calling and a great honor!

Making Tracks

2008-10-24T10:13:00.003-05:00

I decided it was about time that I gave you a glimpse of our little go-getter walking up a storm. It is by far his favorite thing to do! I told Brent the other night that Mason has to be exhausted because all he does all day is walks. In fact, he walks around and around the house carrying his favorite random object of the moment--anything from a large plastic bracket that is almost as tall as he is to a plastic bowl or utensil (as you'll see in the clip below). Yesterday he was even walking back and forth in his crib (not holding on) when I went to get him up from his nap. We love our crazy little guy...and laugh at him a lot!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!

2008-10-16T09:44:00.001-05:00

Today is Beth's Birthday!
Join with me in wishing her a Happy Birthday.
Love you Bethy!

Ode to My Hardworking Husband

2008-10-15T11:04:00.005-05:00

Last night found my hubby working outside in the dark, feverishly trying to finish our awesome patio. He did it! It really is awesome, and he has put in many, many hours--often after already working his "real job" all day. So for that he deserves an ode, don't you think?

Ode to My Hardworking Man

How I love thee, my strong man,

for always working hard

Just to make our home a place

to rest and play in the yard!

A brownie sundae is not enough

to truly say a thank you

But it gave us something to celebrate--

and a sweet bedtime snack, too!

I'm really so thankful for all that you do

To make our life a joy

I've been given more than I deserve

With you and our little boy!

Here's to you, honey! Thanks for all your hard work! I love the patio...and I know the real reason you made it is to cuddle around the fire with me! :)

(I'll post a picture of the patio soon, too!)

A Busy Morning

2008-10-14T21:14:00.005-05:00

This morning I took on a challenge--caring for 4 children, 3 of them being under 2! My nephew Will was here and the littlest Hopkins tikes came to play, too. I wasn't sure I could do it when I agreed to it, but figuring in Mason's nap and a good-as-gold baby boy (You're a little stud, Trent!), I thought it could work. And thankfully, it did! Of course, Mason decided to take the shortest nap of his life this morning so Trace and Mason got in each other's space a few times, and poor Trent needed protection from my son, who is clearly not ready for another baby in the house yet. :) I don't think he left any permanent marks. However, overall everyone was happy, and we had a good time! I give big credit to moms who have lots of little ones at home. I did it semi-successfully for a couple hours, which seemed like an accomplishment to me! A few pics from our morning...

It wasn't easy to catch them all in the same frame!

See, everybody's happy! :)

Mason & Trace sort of playing together.

Poor Trent just resorted to watching TV when he realized everyone was too busy to play with him!

Walker, Texas Ranger?

2008-10-08T15:10:00.006-05:00

So, the other day as Mason was taking a few steps, I randomly called him Walker, Texas Ranger. Who doesn't remember the beloved Chuck Norris and his *amazing* roundhouse kicks, narrow escapes from exploding buildings and his ability to come out on top no matter what? *Wow!* This silly comment brought to mind certain images, as you can see.

Below is an actual video of Mason taking a few steps last Sunday. You wouldn't want to ask him to walk a straight line, but he's getting better--and braver--every day. He has done up to 8 or 9 steps in a row now, so he's getting close to truly being a walker!

(By the way, Walker must be really paranoid about one of two things 1) that his pants are going to fall down or 2) that someone is going to steal his belt. Every picture I found, he's holding on to that thing. Trust us, Walker, we don't want the belt. It's soooo 1990.)

Exploring on a Fall Day

2008-10-03T22:27:00.004-05:00

Mason loves to be outside, and it's my favorite time of year, too. So, the other day I brought Mason out to the back yard and let him explore. He was captivated by his surroundings (especially sticks!) and barely noticed I was even there. That's my favorite time to watch him--when he is simply being Mason in his own little world. You'll observe a few things as you watch:
1) He tries to eat everything.
2) I constantly tell him to stop eating everything.
3) He picks up one knee when he crawls on surfaces other than carpet.
4) He tries to eat everything...oh, did I already mention that?!

Driving the Foil...and Cars

2008-10-03T21:18:00.005-05:00

Mason has always done a good "motor mouth," but he has now actually started applying it to objects as he "drives" them. As you'll see from the videos below, it doesn't necessarily have to be a car, truck or tractor to be driven. I'm telling you these boy things are innate!

A long-time coming...

2008-09-21T21:02:00.004-05:00

So, I lied about that whole "creating posts more often" thing. Sorry! I'm really trying, but life takes over. I know most everyone understands that, but for some reason I'm still feeling the need to say it.

Mason was officially nine months old on September 9, so last week Brent and I decided that we would try to capture some 9-month photos without paying the big bucks for a photographer. We discovered that it is not easy to capture our wiggly son (literally or on camera), and we'll just say we ended up with a lot of "candids." :) But they are pictures that I will treasure, and there are many that capture the essence of Mason. I hope everyone enjoys slide shows because they are a great way to display many photos without making a 6-page long blog post!

Will the real Mason Gaulke please stand up?

2008-09-09T20:12:00.006-05:00

Who needs toys when you can crawl and pull yourself up on anything and everything? Mason LOVES to stand up, and he uses anything possible to do it. It may only be an inch tall, but he'll pull himself up on it if he can! Everyone keeps telling us that one of these days he's just going to start walking--I hope it's many, many days! I have to admit, though, that it is incredibly fun to watch him learn all these new things. Enjoy the slide show (and the interesting Elton John music video which accompanies it)!

Recycled Roast

2008-09-09T19:51:00.002-05:00

Since the weather is feeling like fall, I've got my crock pot out again to make some of those cool weather comfort foods. I made a roast for Sunday--so yummy with carrots and potatoes! And then Monday I recycled our roast, using a delicious method our friend Matt Dunsbergen shared with us last winter. (Thanks, Matt!) It's always so yummy, so I thought I'd share it with the world and not keep its deliciousness all to myself. Here it is...

Ingredients:
Shredded or cut up leftover roast
Bag of frozen mixed vegetables
Can of cream of mushroom soup
Tube of refrigerator biscuits

In crock pot stir together roast, veggies and soup. Cook on medium for 3-4 hours. 30-35 minutes before serving put biscuits on top of the meat mixture in the crock pot. For the doubter, the biscuits really will bake in the crock pot. They won't look brown like in the oven, but they bake just great.

And there you have a yummy, hearty casserole! Enjoy!

Moments with Daddy

2008-09-02T13:40:00.005-05:00

My apologies to those who are faithful followers of the Gaulke blog. I haven't been giving you much new material lately! Life has been crazy, but is hopefully slowing down now. A busy August is now over, and I'm ready to "get my feet under me" again, which hopefully means more frequent blog posts as well!

Mason loves his daddy, of course, so I thought it was time to get some good Daddy moments on the blog. I know Mason loves me, but it's just true that what daddy and son have is different in a special way. Brent already wrestles and tickles and tumbles around with Mason (in ways that I most often prefer not to watch as the cautious mother), and Mason loves it. He giggles and can't get enough. When Daddy's truck drives in the driveway, he knows and starts "talking" and getting excited. He knows his daddy loves him too. So, in honor of the special father/son bond, a few pics of Brent & Mason...

Being silly and "so big" at the same time!

See, Daddy, I'm this big!

Beeping Daddy's nose

Their favorite summer activity--bike rides! There's just one scary dog on the route, and after a couple times of dropping the paci on the pavement, Brent now remembers to clip the paci on! :)

Uh-Oh, Mommy Caught Me!

2008-08-25T14:40:00.004-05:00

Gate the steps, lock the cupboards and remove all potentially dangerous articles from anywhere that is between the floor and 3-feet high! Mason has begun to pull himself up on things, and he thinks it's pretty cool. Of course, the let-downs are not as smooth...I guess that's why God gave us all that padding on our behinds!

"I love pasta with sauce so much, I wanted to become one with it!"

I'm sure every mom feels it, but I continue to be amazed at how quickly Mason learns new things. Personally I'd like him to slow down a little bit! His latest tricks include So Big, lots and lots of clapping, eating more table foods, getting more curious about everything, and getting very close to moving from scooting to truly crawling. If you see him, he would love nothing more than to tell you how big he is, and, in fact, he may tell you even without being asked. We think it's pretty sweet and give him a round of applause every time (I wonder why he claps so much???).

I just love our little guy more than I can say! What a sweat pea. Thanks for loving him with us!

Just put your lips together and blow!

2008-08-14T17:17:00.005-05:00

A couple weeks ago Mason developed a new skill and has since been honing that skill, though he has lost some of his initial gusto. It is the skill of blowing. It cracks us up, so we thought we'd share it. I'm not sure what purpose it serves in his little world, but I'm guessing it's just the thrill of discovering something new he can do...or maybe simply to entertain his parents! If you listen closely at the beginning of the video, you can actually hear a quiet whistle. And we feel he is especially talented because he can blow and jump at the same time. There are big things in his future! :) Toward the end of the clip you'll see another of his favorite pasttimes--making noise! Enjoy our blowing boy!

Celebrating Cement!

2008-08-12T08:59:00.004-05:00

Yes, it's true, we are celebrating cement as we admire our newly poured garage floor and driveway. The garage floor was done earlier in the summer, and the driveway was just completed on Saturday. We are thrilled not to have a mud driveway, and I think Brent may even be a little excited to scoop snow now that he's not scooping mud and gravel with it.

This is a shout out to our faithful cement crew, including all the men of the Nikkel family and Brent's dad. The Nikkel Crew has been on tour this summer, doing multiple family cement jobs in Sully, Killduff and Pella. We are thankful they hadn't run out of steam yet! And the price is right, too. They'll do a lot if you give them lunch and cookies. :) Thanks so much, guys!

The Cement Crew

Mason with Grandpa & Cousin Will on the Skid Steer
Already very much a little boy, he loved to watch the action!

Mr. Funny Face

2008-08-10T23:32:00.002-05:00

Weekend Adventures!

2008-08-04T14:44:00.008-05:00

Swedesburg or Bust!
This weekend's first adventure was our Southeast Iowa Tour. It was our annual Swedesburg gathering of the Swenson clan, which is Brent's mom's side of the family. It's always great to see everyone...and snack constantly from all the yummy treats people bring right up until the time we gather for a huge supper. (Thankfully we also got TONS of exercise because we played tennis on the Wii and did a little DDR as well, so I'm sure it all evened out!) It was a fun day and thankfully not as hot as we thought it might be!

Mason's second cousin Ava, who is 2, loves babies, so she was quite taken with Mason for awhile. It was very cute. "He wants me," she would say. I had to include a picture of them together.
Boating with Buddies
Our second adventure was on Lake Red Rock Sunday afternoon with the Punts & the Dunsbergens. With three children under 18 months on the boat, it went surprisingly well! Mason hates wearing his life vest because it basically swallows him whole, so hopefully next year when he's a little bigger he will be a bit more comfortable. He did enjoy the water with Daddy for a little while, though, before the scream fest began. (I think I could actually hear him saying, "Get this thing off me!" I can't be sure, but...) In the end, Mason fell asleep, which I could not believe, especially because the water was somewhat rough as we were cruising back to the boat ramp.

Floating with Daddy

Some quality time on the boat with Mommy after I could no longer stand my life jacket (we won't pay attention to whatever Mommy's hair is doing!)

Daddy & Mason have some serious "boat hair"

Let's Give a Round of Applause for...Well, for Everything

2008-07-30T17:13:00.009-05:00

It happened Sunday morning. To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention to Mason as I sat in the chair reading and he played on the floor. But then I heard it. The sound of two little hands smacking together. It was a clap--an audible clap! Oh, I had already written about Mason's first clap in his baby book--don't worry about that. (What mom isn't keeping up with her child's baby book? Ha!) But it was one of those entries that I almost felt guilty about because the clap was really pretty weak. The concept was there, but we definitely had some work to do.

(No offense, buddy, but the fists somewhat randomly knocking together wasn't quite the real thing. I know you were trying, and it was very cute! How is it, by the way, that as a first-time mom I have such a strong desire for my son to clap? As if he's not going to someday learn that. Whew! He learned to clap, on to college! Anyway, enough of my side notes...)

The first real clap was very cute and accompanied by a wide-eyed smile. And now we clap for everything. Wave bye-bye, Mason. Clapping. Eat lunch, Mason. Clapping. Sit on the floor, Mason. Clapping. It's so sweet. I'm not kidding. Lots of random clapping.

The last few days he has also added some sort of smile that requires squinting your eyes and sometimes also spitting. Believe it or not, that is also adorable. In case you can't picture it, I've included a photo of the squint-spitting.

Central Iowa Tour

2008-07-27T19:16:00.001-05:00

Saturday was a big day for the Gaulke family. In just one day we attended our first "inurnment," joined the Gaulke clan for the annual reunion, hung out at Grandpa & Grandma Gaulke's in Indianola, and I even squeezed in a bridal shower (barely) and bachelorette party for my friend and cousin Kristin, who is getting married in August. That meant leaving home at 7:00 am and returning to P-town around 11:30 pm. Points on our tour included Indianola, Clarion, Dows, Nevada, Indianola again, Grimes, Indianola again & Pella. Watch for details from next week's Southeast Iowa Tour as we head to Swedesburg to join the Easter clan (Brent's mom's side)... :)

While we somewhat dreaded having such a busy day, it really was a good day and we were glad to see family, especially Brent's aunts, uncles and cousin from the East Coast. Mason did well in the car and really had a lot of fun (as he usually does when he is the center of attention!). He even got to enjoy the Indianola Balloon Classic on Saturday night. (I've never even done that!) I thought I would include some fun photos of his adventures with Uncle Charlie and Cousin Katie!

We couldn't take it anymore!

2008-07-27T18:38:00.001-05:00

Well, we succumbed to the pressure, and the Gaulkes have joined the Blogosphere! We've enjoyed the blogs of friends so much that we could no longer resist. We look forward to using this space to share about life from house projects to random thoughts to our favorite thing--Mason's latest cuteness. :) Speaking of Mason, the name for our blog comes from his favorite book, B is for Bear. We've read it at bedtime (and had it memorized) for months.

Thanks for joining us! Stay tuned...