What I Like About (and hope for) You...

In 2017 we started a family tradition 

of spending some time together the night before school, 

talking about what we like about each of the school kids, 

and what we hope for them.

It's been an awesome way to model

encouragement, observation, hope...

cuz we often live without saying these things aloud.
And we then prayed for each other.

So, I'm going to write them here for posterity!

TAYLOR LEE

Jacob notices you are good at sports things, especially throwing the softball
Jacob hopes that you still have fun even with the changes because of corona virus

Dad notices you are accepting more responsibility (like making eggs for us all in the morning)
Dad hopes that you enjoy your last year at Alkali Creek and last year of elementary school

Robbie notices you are funny and like books just like him
Robbie hopes that you will enjoy new and old friends as you finally get to see them

Mom notices you are responsive to correction and truly trying to improve
Mom hopes that your fifth grade year is a good bridge toward your incoming teen years

ROBBIE JOHN

Taylor notices you are determined and like to complete what you start
Taylor hopes that you will enjoy your new class and new-to-our-school teacher

Mom notices you enjoy facts and details and it brings her joy
Mom hopes that you encounter new levels of friendship as you go back into the classroom

Dad notices you are excited for and find joy in new things, especially the details of it
Dad hopes that you continue to learn and grow as a student when you get to class

Jacob notices you are creative, especially at building LEGOs
Jacob hopes that you have fun at recess and sit by friends in class that help you be responsible

JACOB STERLING

Robbie notices you are funny and make him laugh
Robbie hopes that you will have a fun time in first grade

Taylor notices you know how to cheer others up when they are feeling sad, even her
Taylor hopes that you'll make and enjoy wonderful friends

Mom notices you are tender meaning you're patient, kind, sweet and understanding
Mom hopes that you grow greatly in reading and come to enjoy it

Dad notices you are adventurous and like to try new things
Dad hopes that you enjoy and fit into the new Quest classes you get to be part of

Robbie Rodeo 2017

In August we attended our favorite rodeo!

Here's a few snapshots

(and a video at the end)

of the good times that were had by all!

 Time for the stick-horse races!

Jacob's first time entering!!

Robbie did a great job this year,

completing his heat.

Cousin Scott,

my kids' FAVORITE REAL COWBOY!

Taylor did well in her stick-horse race as well!

These two did so well

working together in the three-legged-race

Lovin' Cousin Scott

This random girl

was just SO cute

I had to snap a photo

We were spectators for the rest of the time

until it was time for the sheep riding!

Jacob had his heart set on riding a sheet this year

and he got his helmet and pads all set

But then while trying to walk around

with limited vision because of the helmet

he fell and busted his lip

which dampened his mood for riding a sheep.

He sure looks cute in his helmet though!

Taylor, on the other hand,

was determined to get a long ride this year

after last year's half a second debacle.

She got all geared up

The expert cowboys helped get her settled,

and she was off!

(She requested that I film it in slow-mo,

so here ya go!)

(This is a video you may not be able to view on a phone/ipad,

or even through the email.

Click on this hickles.blogspot.com

to go to the blog site to see it)

Thanks Cousin Scott for such a good time!

It's the highlight of my kids' year!

Summer Road Trip

I put several pictures on Facebook this summer

but I'm thinking I want to be sure

my grandparents and other friends

that may not frequent Facebook

get to see what we've been up to!

So, this is basically a picture walk...

with a few captions!

First stop, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota

Iowa City for a few nights

as we spent time with Nate and Tricia (and soon-to-come Baby)

We have a tradition of photos with license plates

Corn fields abound in Iowa!

As we drove past them you could hear our kids saying,

"Hi Corn, okay, sure corn!

I'll tell the next cornfield hi from you."

...and then 20 seconds later...

"Oh Hi corn. The other corn says hi.

Okay, I'll tell the next cornfield hi from you."

...and then again...

"Oh hi corn!"

 We continued east, then after a quick night spent in Indiana,

we finally arrived in hot and humid Maryland!

The kids enjoyed sleepovers in Sophie's room each night.

We took a train into DC for the day.

A complete highlight for the kids

Washington Mall

Taylor said,

"I want to make sure we see Mr. Trump's house!"

Strollers were a MUST in all that humidity and heat

The kids rode the carousel on the Mall

Taylor got to see the monument

for her FAVORITE president.

She went with Greg while the rest of us rested

and found some nice ice cold ice cream!

We enjoyed the playground and pool

in the housing community where they live

A few deer in the background

behind the Gowan house

We went to a nearby farm

We got to check a big ticket item off our bucket lists

and go to Camden Yards to watch the O's

And we hung out around Baltimore at the Bay before the game

We also got to stop by the house

where Greg's grandparents lived

back when he was born in 1981!

After a fun-filled week in Maryland

it was time to hit the road again

and we headed to Wisconsin!

This trip we were able to complete in just one day!!

The kids got to catch their FIRST FISH off the pier at the lake

  

We spent a few evenings at the ballfields
watching Coach Neil with Daisy and Sally's softball team

Laura's brother, Neal, has a boat

and we got to go out on the lake and do some tubin'!

Auntie Laura taught Robbie that if you make this hand signal
you are letting the other swimmers know
that you're relieving yourself in the lake!

(It took him 7 minutes to finally go!)

The Gowan kids were in a backyard production of

Beauty and the Beast

directed by a 13 year old!

Lumiere, Chip and Mrs. Potts

 The cousins did quite well with each other.

It's fun to see these girls get older and still find things in common.

It was so fun to be together!

 We drove to our favorite hotel in Fargo, North Dakota

and enjoyed a water slide

and nice comfy beds 

Then we finally headed home!

And snuggled our sweet puppy we had missed so much!