Satuday In the Park

It was a day for firsts.  We took the boys to their first pork and corn roast.  They saw their first tractors and loved sitting behind the wheel. They got a kick out of Daddy and Gramma on the tractors, too.  I think there were quite a few gasps from the crowd when Gramma mounted her tractor.  It was her first time on one.  Grampa drove his Uncle Joe's tractor when he was young, although he was only allowed to drive it straight.  The boys like the steering part.  

Their Great-great-grandfathers Lynch, McWilliams, Heiderscheit and Goedken were farmers.  Perhaps the land is in their blood.  Or perhaps they inherited an attraction to wheels.  Their Great-grandfather Goedken drove a 18 wheeler and won every truck rodeo he entered.  He owned his own truck and Grampa Terry used to love to wash it for him.

"I NEED to drive the tractor," Nathan told me, as soon as he spotted it.

The boys had their first hot dog.  Each one ate a whole hot dog, plus beans, applesauce, barbecued pork and corn.  Andrew enjoyed eating his corn Daddy style.

Andrew is at home with the animals.  He puts his face right in theirs and looks into their eyes.  They tend to back up before he does. 

Just after I took this picture, Andrew picked up the poor chicken.  We encouraged him to put her down.  We think he might have been checking for eggs.

Nathan prefers to be a couple of feet above the animals in the safety of Grampa's arms.

It was also their first concert.  As we entered the pork roast, Nathan froze and listened intently.  "I think I hear music," he told us.  He couldn't get to the music stage fast enough.  "I want to see the violin."  We explained there was no violin in the band.  He studied the drummer's technique as if he was hypnotized and enjoyed the keyboardists glissandos.  The tables weren't close enough for him.  He had to sit directly in front of the stage to be sure he didn't miss anything.

Andrew was interested in dancing to the music. He did not learn his dance moves from his Grampa.

It was their first pony ride.  I know it won't be their last.  Andrew prefers to study the horses, rather than to ride them.  Nathan NEEDS to drive them.  Gramma didn't try to ride a pony.  She doesn't do well going in circles.

Drums for Sale!

Andrew is becoming a great navigator.  There was construction work being done on the way to Grampa's house, so Ryan Joseph took an alternate route.  Andrew realized he wasn't on the right road and said, "You're going the wrong way, Daddy!"  As I "drive" them in their cars and bikes around the house, they like to tell me, "right turn" or "left turn."  When Grampa was assisting them in getting into their car seats to go home, Ryan Joseph told  him that Nathan's carseat was on the left side.  Andrew told Grampa, "I'm on the right." 

Andrew's imagination makes play much more fun.  He drove into Grampa's office, which he calls Motorola and checked the parking lot for Grampa's white car.  He spotted it, stopped his car and got out to literally pick Grampa up and put him in the trunk of his car.  He then returned to the spot Grampa's imaginary car was parked and shut Grampa's door.  After returning to his own car he told imaginary Grampa, "Let's go get lunch."

Nathan still enjoys being pushed around in his car, even though he can make it go on his own.  I have always marveled at his ab strength to hold his feet off the ground, as I spin him around corners and go flying down the hallway.  I would be in much better shape if I followed his example.  I would try it, if I could get Grampa to drive me around the house.  This week, you can see he discovered an easier way to keep his feet out of the way.  He can pedal his own tricycle now, too. 

This is making me very nervous.  I was counting on a few piano players from the next generation.  I remember when Matt chose to play the drums.  It took a long time before I agreed to it.  Terry reminded me that I told my students' parents, "you have to let them choose the instrument they want to play."  I still believed that was true, but I meant that the child should choose a REAL instrument.  In my mind, that required an instrument that could play a melody.  I also remember that immediately after purchasing the drum set, I asked what I could buy, so I wouldn't have to hear them.

I still have the drums in my basement and am waiting for Matt to take them to his house for his son!

Sponge Bob Philosophy

At nap time the boys like to remove their socks and their shoes.  When Nathan got his socks off, I noticed he was wearing a Sponge Bob band-aid.  He explained to me that Mommy put the band-aid on his owie.  Andrew noticed his band-aid too and told me, "I need a Sponge Bob band-aid."  I gave him a hug and explained that he didn't want to have an owie to get a band-aid.  After their nap, I found Andrew trying to put a used, rumpled Sponge Bob band-aid on his leg.  A quick inventory of Nathan revealed he no longer was wearing any band-aid.  "Did you take Nathan's band-aid?" I asked.  "It's my band-aid," Andrew replied, as he continued. unsucessfully, to press it onto his leg.  Note to self:  When applying a Sponge Bob band-aid to one injured twin, one must offer a Sponge Bob band-aid to the other twin, as well. 

Andrew didn't finish his snack during our wagon ride, which was a little shorter due to the extreme heat, so he wanted to stay in the wagon until his snack was gone.  Nathan and I waited for him and explored the gaage in the meantime.I think he was worried Grampa would want to share. 

I remember my sister and I playing in my grandfather's garage, which doubled as his workspace.  We learned to hammer nails, use vices (the tool sort) and saw wood.  Grandpa Froehle said there are two ways to fix almost anything; duct tape and WD-40.  He applied both liberaly and was right.

I worried I wouldn't get a video of Andrew singing the WHOLE alphabet song, since I missed the first and the second time.  Little did I know that he would sing it a total of twelve times, before he decided to change songs.

Someday Nathan will be fantastic at getting ice cubes out of an ice bucket.  His tong technique shows promise.  He works intently, encourages himself and experiments with the best placement of his hand on the tongs.  Can you tell we live on a golf course?  Andrew goes off to explore Gramma's weights.  Likely he wonders when she'll be strong enough to pick them up, or if he will have to do it for her. 

What engineer thought to put wheels on a chair?

Watcha Doin' Gramma?

I am always sure to plan ahead for Fridays.  There's no time to design a gameplan in the middle of the huddle.  Thursday evening, I prepared my Apple French Toast Strata and since Grampa was in China, I went off to a wine tasting.  I slept so well without Grampa's snoring, that I didn't wake up in time to put my strata in the oven.  When I finally looked at the clock, I went flying downstairs with Rebecca'scat chasing me; excited that he was going to get his breakfast, early.  I turned the oven on and threw the strata in.  Then I fed the cat and headed back upstairs to put my wonder woman suit on. 

I hurried back downstairs and brought in the high chairs, set the table and set up toys for the boys.  I noticed that the kitchen was smelling like smoke.  I wondered what Grampa had cooked and spilled in the oven that was now smoking.  I poured milk, juice, heated the syrup and set out the bibs.  When I looked up at the kitchen ceiling I realized that the whole kitchen was filled with smoke.  I had turned the strata up an extra 25 degrees, since I was running late.  I checked the strata to see if it might be burning on top.  No sign of anything burning.  I checked the front door to see if they was any sign of my boys.  When I returned to the kitchen it was even smokier.  OH NO!  I had turned the griddle on instead of the oven.  And Terry had bought a cutting board to put over the griddle.  I had been baking the wood, which was now burned and close to starting on fire. 

Okay, turn on the real oven and go for plan B.  I don't like to use he microwave, but there are still times I think it can save a meal.  The boys arrived, with Nathan running through the hall looking for Gramma.  Who cares about breakfast? 

I found Gramma's hose.



She said it's really important to point it down.  When I don't she gets all excited and tries to take her turn.

Auntie Stina came across the country to read and sing to me. 

I bought the boys a swing and have looked for a year for a place to hang it.  We don't have a tree that will work.  I begged Grampa to hang it from the ceiling.  He told me it wasn't the swing he was going to hang.  I don't go into Grampa's workroom any more than I have to and I don't stay any longer than I have to.  When I was bringing him some lightbulbs for his workroom, I noticed he had a perfect beam to hang a swing.  Nathan is thrilled I finally found a spot for it.  He will swing for over an hour, if someone will push him.  He directs how he would like to be pushed and doesn't mind the ambience in the room.  He noticed Grampa's spare garden hose and knows it is important to hang on.  Andrew is not so thrilled with swings which works out perfectly, because Nathan is not fond of sharing it. 

When I was a child I used to like to swing, too.  Up until just before I threw up.  Perhaps Andrew has my motion sickness.  Our swing hung from a willow tree that grew at the edge of a cliff.  When you would swing you would go out over the cliff.  I wish I could take the boys back there to try it.

Gramma's Apple French Toast Strata Recipe

 Ingredients
• 1 (1 pound) loaf bread, cubed   (I usually use my homemade bread)

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, diced

• 1 cup diced peeled apples  and 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 8 eggs

•  1 cup kefir  (I make my own) and 1 1/2 cups organic milk or cream
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1/4 cup real maple syrup

Directions

1. Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or grapeseed oil. Arrange 1/2 of the cubed bread in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the cream cheese evenly over the bread, and top with the apples. If you like, you can add raisins. Top with remaining bread.

2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the kefir, milk, butter, and maple syrup. Pour over the bread mixture. Cover with plastic wrap, and press down so that all bread pieces are soaked. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

4. Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

A Goedken/Lynch/Froehle/Heiderscheit Tradition

I remember eating Dippin' Eggs as a child.  They're soft-boiled eggs with the top chopped off, so you can dip your "little soldiers" into the yolk.  The little soldiers are made from toast that's been cut in half and then into half inch slices to fit into the hole at the top of the egg.  I hated eggs, but loved these, because of the experience.  Our eggs were placed into wooden egg cups that had faces painted on them.  When I had my children, Uncle David brought us back glass egg cups from Denmark.   My children loved them.  Even Rebecca, who also didn't like eggs.  Nathan doesn't care for eggs, either, so we thought it was time to try Dippin' Eggs.  We have a convert!  We're celebrating a rite of passage to the fifth generation. 

It takes special technique to dip deep enough to cover your little soldier, and not go so deep the yolk starts to ooze out of the top.

I think we actually digest a slice of self-satisfaction along with the egg.  Andrew enjoyed eating the white part of the egg, and Nathan was happy to give his away to his brother, without tasting it.  The boys have learned to be very suspicious of the food put before them.  I don't know what their parents are trying to feed them, but the boys are always on the lookout for a parental plot.  This will prepare them for dealing with the government.

Andrew keeps reminding me that he doesn't like broccoli, even if I'm offering him a banana.  I always tell him, as I did his father, "Not, yet?  Well tastes change.  Perhaps someday."  Ryan Joseph used to try something every time it was served, just checking if his tastes had changed.  Andrew isn't going to fall for that.  But I do think Ryan Joseph eventually learned that I was right.  Who knew you might have to get old before it happens.  (Your tastes to change and for your children to find out you may have been right.)

Andrew is working on his sense of style.  He enjoys dress up as much as Gramma.  He is at the cutting edge of fashion mixing his prints.

Andrew and Grampa have a face to face...

Which always ends with a huge smile.

Andrew's still big into silly faces., especially at the table.  He gets this talent from Uncle Matt.  Anyday, he will be hanging a spoon from his nose.  If he can get away from Matt.

Nathan is very, very interested in anything to do with violins.  He brings them up many times during the day.  It could all end quickly if Gramma ever pulls out her violin and plays for him.

A Lesson from Winnie the Pooh

The boys have learned a new way to wrap Gramma and Grampa around their fingers.  Nathan came into the room and said, "Gramma, I need to see whatcha doing, Honey."  Grampa told me Andrew said, "Grampa, come up here Honey."  I asked if he went and he said, "of course!"  Gramma and Grampa are eating up the "Honeys."  Winnie the Pooh would love them.  The boys learned this from their mother and I hope it never stops.  Who could turn down a request like, "Gramma, could I have one more TCOOKIE, Honey?"  (Nathan is still workig on his K sounds.)  Soon they're going to learn their "Honeys" will get them whatever they want.  My grandmother told me, "You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar."  She was the smartest woman that ever lived.

I found Andrew totally engrossed in this computer game with all kinds of little beeping sounds.  I didn't rememer that we had any small games that he could have found.  When I looked closer, I realized he had my alarm clock.  I relied on Grampa to fix it, and suggested if he needed help he could check with Andrew.  I'm learning to think in military time now.

Nathan is applying lip gloss.  He knows to rub his lips together and make a smacking sound after applying it. 

Is that my chip clip on my schiflera?  I was wondering why it had started to drop so many leaves.  I don't know who to give credit to for this one.  But I suspect Andrew.  He knows his way around a chip clip and has always had a bit of a grudge against my schiflera.  The plant is huge and reaches out to grab little boys.



Grammpa shows the boys a magic trick that  makes money appear.  They see Daddy's money and know they want some.  Andrew wants Grampa to do the trick again and again.  Gramma wants Grampa to do the trick for her, too.

The Goedken Boys and Their Hoses

I called, "We'll go outside as soon as you get new diapers on.."  Nathan hit the deck immediately.  He loves the outside and would spend the whole day outside if he could.

This is a Goedken tradition being passed on to the next generation.  We all remember Terry's father watering his flowers.  He used to love standing there and talking to the neighbors. 

Andrew found the spot where two hoses were joined, which naturally leaks.  He can lean over and drink from the small trickle that comes out there.  His faher was fantastic at the splits, too.  I always thought it was from his karate training.  Perhaps it's genetic.  On second thought, I've never seen Terry do anything close to that.  He does love the hose though.

Nathan is pretty good with the hose, but you have to be sure not to attract his attention.  He doesn't exactly have the instant release down yet. The rules are not to squirt people, but if the people you're spraying stand there yelling, you tend to stay focused on them; hose and all.

Gramma and Grampa now have a couch in their garage.  Auntie Becca moved her furniture home and the couch wouldn't fit through the door.  It was decided that it would be great for resting on after the twins' wagon rides.  The twins approved.  They try to get Gramma off the couch in time for lunch.

It's nap time and Gramma can't find where the boys went.  How can they take a nap, if Gramma can't find them?  They were just ahead of her, when she came upstairs.  Listen, can you hear it; "Don't cry for me Argentina."  They love Auntie Becca's balcony.  It's a great place to check on what Grampa is doing.

There's a blueberry snatcher in our midst.  Andrew can eat a pint of blueberries all by himself and he has the diapers to prove it.