Indy with Daddies in tow!

After finishing up work last Thursday, Nick helped me to finish packing, load the car with our babies and dogs, and get our house show-ready before embarking on our trip to Indy.  Six hours, three stops, two energy drinks, and twenty minutes of Emmy sleep later, we pulled into the Sacksteder's driveway just a hair past midnight.  We came up with a strategic plan to move our sleeping babies into their respective corners so that we wouldn't wake Kris and JP and their babies in the process.  All was good until the dogs were placed in their enclosure.  Both Molly and Darla were hell-bent on letting the neighborhood know that they'd arrived.  By the grace of God, everyone was sleeping soundly and weren't ruffled by, particularly Molly's, ear-splitting bark.  Ugh.

The next morning, after a lingering goodbye (Andy, Emmy and Clairey weren't ready to halt their play,) we drove a little over an hour to Nick's Aunt Cindy's farm!  The gorgeous day only added to the beautiful scenery along the drive.  We were able to visit with Aunt Cindy, as well as Nick's cousins, Sam, Joe, Andrea and her new little bundle of love, Addison!  They welcomed us with open arms and showed us a really wonderful day!  We got to visit with Aunt Cindy's horses, sail on the pond, climb in the tractor, eat ourselves silly with a DELICIOUS BBQ lunch, not to mention catch up around the kitchen table.  We pried ourselves away that evening and look forward to our next encounter in California in July for the celebration of Ben and Eliana's marriage. :)

The rest of the weekend was spent playing hard.  The kiddos had a lemonade stand under the direction of their daddies (they made $7!!), they played at the park and the pool.  Bottom line, they wore each other (and their parents) out!  Nick and JP took full advantage of the evenings after the kiddos went to bed...Drinking beers, watching sports, Buffalo Wild Wings and a movie night.  Just like old times, only with five kids and a few more gray hairs.

Kris and I, of course, just find comfort in handling the crazies together.  We agree that we are better versions of ourselves when we're working side-by-side.  I feel so grateful to have had another chance to do so.  We are counting down the days until our next rendez-vous (Emmy wanted to return as soon as we arrived home. ;)

Nick cuddling his second cousin, Addison. :)

Hannah cuddling her second cousin, Andrea!

More cuddles...

We like to cuddle. :)

Serious Emmy wasn't without her cowgirl hat. :)

Next time Nick wants to ditch the boat and swim with the fish. :)

Practicing smiling at Mama. :)

Babies and two sleep-deprived Mommies! (Andrea makes exhaustion look good. ;)

Emmy reluctantly sitting on the pony.  She was feeling less brave than she did last year...

As I was buckling Emmy into her carseat, she tells me, very matter-of-factly, "Mama.  I like Aunt Cindy."

GORGEOUS! (You know when Emmy puts her own clothes on, because they are backwards, 100% of the time.)

Leading the horses to their enclosure with Daddy and Sam.

Good memories!

Preparing the sign for their lemonade stand.

Babies keeping busy.

Consuming their own merchandise.

The lemonade stand idea was conceived as an opportunity for Andy to use his cash register.

Customers besides Mommy!

Practicing old tricks!

Hannah, true to Hannah form, was game for anything.  

Father's Day cuddles!  Hannah's gift to Nick. :)

Reminds me of another photo...

Must be a two-year-old thing to crash other people's family portraits.

Love them!  Each and every one!

Our eldest is completely disinterested in looking at the camera.  She's far too busy for such nonsense.

Jacob and Uncle Nick stretching their legs.

Preparing to Skype with Papa on Father's Day...

The chaos ensues...Dad couldn't get a word in edgewise, but judging by the hysterical laughs he was giving us, I think he preferred it that way. ;)

Clairey on the hot seat playing "name that president" for Mimi and Papa.  The rules: Kris would give her a first name and Clairey had to fill in the last name of one of the Presidents of the United States.  For example, Kris: "Franklin." Clairey (a month shy of three years old): "Delano Roosevelt." She had a perfect score, which was about 100% better than my own :-P.  It was hilarious, especially as I simultaneously watched my two year old literally bouncing off the wall while playing in Jacob's baby swing. 

Giving Kris one of her patented whole body hugs on a rough parenting day.

This photo would give one the impression that Emmy slept on the way home.  But it's all an illusion.

We tried a second time (who am I kidding, we took about 40 family pictures), but a certain little person was still on a camera boycott.  At least she's smiling this time. :)

From the mouths of babes

On berating Molly & Darla for lusting after her food:

"NO MOLL MOLL DAWLA! THAT'S EMMY'S NOT YOURS!"

On my music selection:

"I no like that song anymore." (She is impossibly picky.)

On defending her independence:

"I do it aallllll by my self."

"I carry it. It's big heavy."

On watching family videos:

"I watch video when Dada came home." (Warms my heart to hear.  It's her very favorite, she chooses it over Caillou and Dora.)

On preventing me from finding something she's hidden, particularly when I'm in a rush:

"I take away." (on repeat each time I ask her where it is.)

On being told we're going to visit Andy, Clairey & Jacob:

"I get my shoes."

On our new house:

"That's Miss Susan's house." (Susan is our realtor now that Marin has moved to D.C..  In credit to Emmy, Miss Susan has always greeted us at the door when we arrive.)

On always putting her clothes on backwards:

"Look Dada!  My boobies are showing!"

After intentionally screaming bloody murder into my right ear (because I shot down her pitch for cookies for breakfast), she cups my face in her hands, lightly pressing our noses together, stares intently into my eyes, and gently whispers,

"It's ok, Mama. Special treat."

This post is a work in progress...

Into Harms Way Bootleg

Over a year ago now, a film crew from The Documentary Group in New York joined us for our visit with Nick's parents after he returned from Afghanistan.  They were selected by the History Department at West Point and the Class of '67 to create a film based on the incredible military experiences of a few alumni.

My father-in-law, Nick Horn, was included in the film as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions during a specific battle while leading troops in Vietnam.  Here is the citation, that you can hear my Nick reading in the film:

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) William Whitaker Horn (ASN: OF-111624), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Horn distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 April 1969 while serving as executive officer of two gun sections at Patrol Base Diamond. When the battery came under massive mortar and ground attack and communication land lines were severed, Lieutenant Horn left his bunker and raced through the deadly fusillade to supervise his howitzer crews. As the attacking communists pressed the perimeter defense, he rallied his men and directed their point-blank firing. In spite of the intense hostile barrages, he traversed one hundred fifty meters to the perimeter eighteen times to confer with forward observers and to radio information to his battery fire direction center. When a rocket-propelled grenade impacted upon an ammunition bunker, he fearlessly braved the hostile bombardment to extinguish the flames. He directed the firing of numerous beehive rounds which halted the enemy's advance within ten meters of the perimeter. First Lieutenant Horn's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2283 (June 27, 1969)

Action Date: 15-Apr-69

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Battery C

Battalion: 1st Battalion

Regiment: 8th Field Artillery

Division: 25th Infantry Division"

This award is something you'll never hear him discuss, because that is the sort of man he is. When I stumbled across this information, there are not words to describe just how awestruck I became.  To say that his military example has left a profound impression on us is the understatement of the century.

I recently acquired a copy of the 90 minute film, which is now being shopped to different networks and film festivals.  The personal chronicles that are featured are so moving and presented in such a thought-provoking and artistic manner.  We are so honored to have been included in the project.

Emmy and I took it on ourselves to make a bootleg video of the parts that our family was in, but I will be sure to share any word about where to see the film in it's entirety because the stories of the others are not to be missed.  Please excuse the dogs barking and Emmy talking in this very rude version, it was the very best I could manage (after four previous attempts.) :-P

Here is a summary of the film that I found here:

"The West Point Class of 1967 arrived at the academy during the heady days of the early 1960s when it appeared that America was destined for a century of unrivaled success. Four years later, when the members of that class were graduated and commissioned as officers in the United States Army, the country was embroiled in a strange and unpopular war in Southeast Asia. The Class of 1967 paid a high price in that war, yet most stayed strong, bonding as brothers and as soldiers in a way that has endured through to the present. Using oral history interviews shot exclusively for West Point’s new Center for Oral History, Into Harm’s Way is a ninety-minute documentary, an honest and often painful look at the shadow that war continues to cast long after the guns have fallen silent, and at how this war in particular continues to occupy an unsettled place in the American psyche."

Summer days

Emmy has been such a good sport with all of my cleaning and preparations for the house showings and the open house we've had recently.  (We've ended up on the "short list" twice but the buyers have gone with other houses.  To say that I am eager to move on from this chapter would be putting it mildly. I'm trying to stay focused on the positive and that we've actually had showings. :-/) But I digress.  We took a day off from cleaning to head to the downtown farmer's market to buy some locally grown produce and steaks to grill for dinner, rigged up the sprinkler and had a family fun afternoon outside...Boy, did we need it!

A rare sill moment in Emmy's world.

Standing up like a big girl!

Molly has an uncanny ability to insert herself places.

Grabbing some vitamin D.

5 months!

Hannah's 5 months old!

Favorite Pastime: Locking eyes with passersby and grinning and squealing at them.

Sleeping: Our schedule is beginning to take shape!  Hannah takes two solid naps during the day (HALLEJUAH!) and sometimes a quick catnap as well.  Bedtime is around 8 o'clock with Emmy.  She has been waking up at least once during the night for the last six weeks or so :-/.  She usually rises for the day in the seven o'cock hour.

Feedings:  We are still going strong with nursing 6-7 times throughout the day.  She is super grabby and definitely watches us all eat with wide eyes, she's getting ready for solids!  We plan to introduce them between 5.5 to 6 months!

Developmental milestones:  She is a little chatty Cathy offering up a wide variety of noises; which will serve her well in keeping up with our continuous conversation throughout the day. :)  She hasn't yet rolled over, but I am not sweating it.  It'll happen.  She's a strong little thing, and loves to pull herself to a sit and then a stand when holding onto our fingers.  She loves to grip things, particularly my hair, which is now coming out by the fistful.  (I really despise this aspect of being post partum.)  Above all, we are having the best time watching her little personality develop: she is a smiley, playful, easy-going, cuddly, adaptable little love bug.  Oh how we love her!

My incredibly talented girlfriend Jill made Hannah's onesie...So cute!!

Baby Brown Eyes

Emmy looking like a homeless person.  She learned from the best.

Emmy insisting that Hannah kiss the boo-boo on her foot.  Nice.

Returning the favor. ;)  They adore each other. :)