tank's car

My sister lives nearby and we often get her kids' old toys. I was not too sure how I felt about inheriting this car, but now I love it. I even think I posted a picture of Tank in it last year. He loves this thing. When the weather turned somewhat warm again, Tank was out there happily reunited with his car. He sometimes brings a drink to put in the cup holder and will often park his car in front of the grass, gaze across his land, and take a sip of cool water. 

afternoons

When we return home from errands, the kids often grab a moment in the front yard to ride "bikes." Little Bug is most fond of the scooter and Tank, even though we do have a trike his size, always chooses to cruise around with the shopping cart. He thinks it is just as fun as being on his own set of wheels. I love these peaceful and fun moments.

tractor

Andrew has just begun creating and building a play structure for the kids in the backyard. His vision required obtaining some old utility poles. We were offered the poles for free. The only problem was transporting them home and somehow getting them in our backyard. Fortunately my Uncle has both a trailer and a tractor. So, while Andrew, my Uncle, and Bug were off getting the poles, Tank had an absolute blast "driving" that tractor...for an hour.

And phone pics of Tank "helping" Andrew dig the holes for said poles. 

time out

Little Bug was in time out the other night. A minute into it Tank went looking for his play buddy. When he found her it must have looked like fun cause he decided to drag a chair across and room and join her. Then he started tracing the shapes on the wall just like big sister. The power of older siblings. The matching outfits to the wall is completely unintentional. Although I do love teal. 

choo choo

Tank loves his "choo choo".  He feeds his choo choo, takes baths with him, but to his dismay, he is not allowed to sleep with him.

He pretty much loves anything automotive.  He gasps and points with excitement at all the trucks, cars and especially buses he sees while driving.  He says digger, crane, dump truck, and cement truck, along with his standard car, truck, and choo choo. I guess I had better beef up on my construction vocab.

His latest tantrums are the best. First he says "no" and then lays on the floor silently. It is awesome.  If he agrees with what you are saying or asking he says, "yeah." We hear lots of "no's" and "yeah's" all day long here.

And this past week he started saying some really good sentences. I told him it was time for his nap and he responded by saying, "I want to play" except it sounded like this, Iwannaplay. I think he meant it too because he cried in his crib for an hour until he conked out. He also has been saying "here you go" or, hereyougo, and then handing me stuff.

Oh, we love our Tank!

christmas

This is usually what happens when I try to take a picture of the kids together. This also happens to be the only picture I have of Christmas this year or technically last year (I am still in the beginning of January and cannot believe the calendar basically says, March). 

Despite my family's recent happenings, we did celebrate Christmas around here and it was very pleasant and peaceful. My dad always loved Christmas. It was a common known fact in my family that dad was an extremely hard worker and pretty much a work alcoholic. Christmas was one of the rare days he excused himself from doing any work and did not feel guilty about it. We did all our old family traditions he loved while we enjoyed the true meaning of Christmas. And because I am so lost on time, Easter will come out of no where for me and we will be able to celebrate the second half of that wonderful story. I am so grateful for Christ's gifts to us, birth and life, and, death and salvation. I am glad this past Christmas reminded me of that.  

family pics

A few months ago we had our family photos taken. We love them! Here are a few of our favorites.

tea party

Bug has been really into tea parties lately, and by tea, we mean hot chocolate. We have at least three family tea parties around here a week., this does not include the tea parties we have during the day without daddy (those ones are with water). So, when my sister and her family came over for dinner the other night, I promised Bug she could have a tea party with her cousin, Abigail. However, when I pulled out those miniature marshmallows and cookies and then warmed up some hot chocolate, all the cousins, aka boy cousins, decided to attend the event. It was all very cute and funny. 

our couch potatos

Popcorn and a movie just hit the spot for us all sometimes.

12.5.12

Sadly, my dad lost his fight to cancer the morning of December 5, 2012. It is one of those dreaded things you can not imagine until it happens; the loss of a beloved parent. It is hard to sum up the life of a man who has meant so much to me. It would take pages filled with stories, memories and moments to even try and grasp at how I feel about this loss. The sorrow catches me in waves, usually when the day is settling and I am worn, but mostly I am left with tremendous gratitude for having the father I had. Not too many are as lucky as I.

So Dad,

I desperately miss your cheerful hellos on the phone and you sitting at your desk, staring at that computer screen working working...

I am so grateful I was with you that last year and half. Your sacrifice was great and you never turned bitter and your faith in God and Christ never wavered.

Thank you for the years of support; thank you for all you provided; thank you for your strong work ethic; thank you for always patiently getting off the computer to come help me; thank you for loving my Bug and always jumping up at the sound of her cry; thank you for your gentle, cheerful and often playful disposition; and thank you for the legacy you left behind. You will always be my beacon.

I will never forget how you worked and sacrificed for us all, how you always served and for never once making me doubt God and family came first.

Thanks for all the beautiful memories and for fighting so hard for us. Until we meet again, the wait already seems dreadfully long. I will think about you everyday for the rest of my life. In the meantime, I will be waiting for you on the river next summer, just like you said.

Douglas Frank Kunkel

June 26, 1943 - December 5, 2012