Our Week

Happy Fourth!

Family painting project.

Funny hats for a pretend surprise birthday party.

Diggers left to "do their thing" while we walked to preschool.

The most gorgeous lilies I have ever seen from my husband.  

Wimbledon

I was royally spoiled last week.  Ryan took the day off to give me a day off!  I spent the night with my parents and then we headed out in the wee hours of the morning to join several thousand other people who were also hoping for tickets to see Wimbledon tennis - so fun!  A whole day of getting to be in the sun, hanging out with my parents, not sharing my food with two red-heads, and watching other people work really hard.  It was great.

We queued up around 6:30am and had a great time playing games and chatting, waiting for our line to start moving.  Mom and I with our queue tickets:

Walking the long route to the main gate:

We started the day watching Sabine Lisicki win her match.  She went on to the play in the semi-finals.  Front row seats!

After seeing the Bryan brothers win (go USA!), we headed to Henman Hill and watched Venus Williams get beat.

Mom and I enjoying the famous strawberries and cream - delish!

Rooke Speak

Our little man is giving us a run for our money these days.  It's the kind of run that puts the parenting books back on the night stand.  He has a lot on his mind.  Always.  And even on the most frustrating of days, I find myself cracking up at the glimpses I get into his train of thought . . .


Speculating on the future and preparing to be a dad (a hot topic these days):
"Lots of daddies work and make money.  When I'm a daddy, I'll make lots of money and then I can have my own dessert at a restaurant."

"One day I'll be a daddy and Gretchen will be a mommy and we won't play much.  We'll just talk a lot."

"When I'm a daddy, will I be Daddy Rooke, or will my name change?"

Getting rid of a fly:
"Let's dead 'em.  Let's beat him dead."

Scolding Daddy:

"I don't like your jokes.  I don't want to say that too many times."

Taking charge:
"Daddy's the king and Mommy's the queen.  Gretchen can be the princess, but I don't want to be the prince.  I want to be the judge."

Recognizing the Creator:
"My [pajama] pants are too long, but that's okay.  That's how God made them."

Saturday Swords

Part of my plans for Father's Day included making new swords.  Inspired by my friend's how-to post and the sorry state of our own swords, I gathered all the materials and was ready for a Sunday afternoon fencing lesson.  But we ended up spending the afternoon playing and going for a walk with our neighbors!  So we put off the sword-making until this past weekend.

Gretchen practiced her driving . . .

. . . while Ryan worked on the swords.

Then it was time to fight!  David meets Goliath:

After naps, we drove to visit the beautiful Wrest Park.

Due to renovations, we weren't able to see a lot of the grounds.  And after Gretchen had a nasty run-in with some goose droppings, we hit the road for a nearby Ikea.  Picnic dinner in the trunk and then some shopping!  

Peterborough Cathedral

This is how Gretchen has been starting her days lately.  Rooke will fill her crib with one thing at a time: blankets, stuffed animals, pillows, and whatever else he finds that is suitable for making his sister giggle.  They love the game and will entertain themselves this way for at least ten minutes!

After the morning game last Saturday (yes, I am way behind on organizing my pictures), we ventured out to visit the Peterborough Cathedral.  

I just love the ceilings!

Children from the area had worked together to create a visual model for every book of the Bible.  The kids loved checking it all out and Rooke even guessed at what a few of the scenes were.

The same kids also made this . . .

. . . out of these - creative!

Walking around the town center before hitting a flea market and then heading home

Father's Day Recap

Every year, Ryan gets a new book for Father's Day with he and the kids in mind.  Not too long and I won't be picking out the books anymore.

After church, we went out for lunch at a well-known pub in a neighboring village.  We arrived before it opened and were told that they were fully booked for the afternoon.  But then got notice that a table of four had canceled and we could have their spot - perfect!  They had a beautiful garden in the back where we killed time and had a photo shoot while waiting to eat. 

 

I never leave home without at least four cars.  She's getting good at her sound effects!

The man of the day!  We love you!