Wake up Duck!!

I doubt this post will be as successful as my first on the same subject, but I think it is time for a Duck update.  If you missed the first post, read it here.  Duck is Lillian's best friend.  He is the sixth member of this family and is involved in almost everything we do.

You will see from the following photos that Duck feels about the same way I do every day.  We'll start with my aspiring photographer taking a picture of Duck as she has made his bed and put him down for a nap.

Now Duck cannot walk yet you see, so the best way for him to get around the house, other than in Sissy's arms, is the twins plastic fire truck seat.  Along with a smattering of blocks, which I think were his snack (if only we all could have snacks as big as our heads!) he is snug as a bug and ready for a ride.

Like I said, Duck must feel like I do most of the time.  This is a perfect example from the twins birthday party.  I looked like this by the end of the night as well, however, my lazy flop may have been due to one too many margaritas.

We purchased a playset for all the kiddos for their birthdays, however, this means the most to Lilli.  On one of our morning swing outings (before she decided to stop wearing pants - update on that later) she tugged Duck along through the yard, but this time he wanted to sit on the ladder and read Curious George books instead of sitting in his normal position at the end of the slide.

So again, after all of this activity, Duck needed a nap.  This time using a couple of mommy's clean dish towels which were strewn about the house by baby brothers.  Oh and a little teeny tiny pillow for his plush little already pillowed head.

So after nap, its definitely time for a snack.  Duck can't get into the chair himself, of course, but Lillian can!

You might think that Duck has had enough sleep, but really I think he might be getting TOO much sleep and therefor all he wants to do is sleep more.  Or maybe its the fact that his bed changes every 5 minutes so he never really gets in good sleep...that's it I bet!  So here he is all tucked in, toes to chin, in Lillian's own bed.  I hope he's warm enough!

And lastly a pic of Duck in his most favorite spot (he has told me himself).  I can see why.  She is such a warm and loving girl, I don't know what he would do without her.  He would certainly lose a lot of sleep.

Grand Island Senior High Class of 1992

How I will break them of this I don't know, but its so cute, I don't really care.

We left last Thursday to drive back to John's hometown for his 20 year high school reunion.  I didn't really know what to expect, I figured I'd have fun, but was really just looking forward to seeing family that I hadn't seen for 6 months.

Other than short naps and a 3 year old still refusing to wear anything on her private parts, the drive up was fairly uneventful.  We got there in good time, about 6 hours for a drive that used to take 4 1/2 for just John and I.  Now we have to stop and get the kids out and eat a meal, which isn't a terrible deal when you haven't eaten out in a restaurant for a month!

The kids having a ball on the trampoline at Uncle Kurt & Aunt Robyn's.

The first and last nights were spent with Grandpa and were great.  The next two nights were event nights so John's brother and wife took all 3 kids overnight.  It was super, but we still woke up at 7am and got going as soon as we could to get back to the kids.  With the help of a Starbucks these mornings were bearable and any excess alcohol was negated with a mocha and breakfast sandwich (did I really used to do that EVERY weekend??!).  Saturday morning with John's brother and wife was particularly great because the weather was nice, and we spent all morning outside with the kids and visiting with each other.

Grandpa and Will, bonding at bedtime.

Friday night the Grand Island Senior High Class of 1992 met at a bar the size of my living room.  We were apprehensive.  However, having been to this bar before, it's one of those places you know is going to entice a good time (like Charlie Hooper's).  It was wall to wall people, which was good because you basically had to talk to anyone who moved passed you.  Saturday night was the formal thing.  It was okay.  The people were fun and we did our fair share of participating, but they had a really loud DJ and it was just too formal.  I sound terribly old right?  But it was like a bad wedding.  I know at my reunion, I'm going to want to talk to people, not scream at them over some crap ass techno shit that wasn't even popular in the 90's, nor should it be now (because it really is total crap).  This was my least favorite part of the weekend.  More positively, my favorite part was Friday night into Saturday morning.  I'd like to relive that again soon.

Note - this is close to the end of the evening.

Like I said, I didn't know what to expect, but I had a really good time.  I know my husband comes from good stock and was raised in a very stable community full of salt of the earth people.  The whole of the people I met were very well put-together and the lot of them looked excellent for being almost 40.  Not that 40 is old, now that I'm only 4 years away, but these people don't look like what I expect 40 to look like.  They looked great.  They came from all over the country - world even - one guy lives in Japan, one London, and one Playa del Carmen.  All seemingly down to earth, good people.

What I learned about my husband through this was more interesting, however less unexpected.  I know John's personality and I always imagined he was the kind of good guy that knew everyone to some extent.  This proved to be true.  Of course his two closest friends were there, but it seemed he was friends with a good portion of the others as well. Not at all surprised that my good guy knows a lot of good people.  All in all it reminded me a lot of my own high school class.  A bunch of great people, living their lives as best they can, still keeping in touch with their roots, but living adventurously in whatever way they deem appropriate for themselves.  It was nice meeting you all GISH 1992.  We look forward to 2022.