we decided pretty last minute to take a little mini vacation over some of spring break.
we didn't go far… Lawrence & Kansas City.
we stayed at my parents house…even though we told Annie we would go to a hotel… we never made it.
we started out with swimming at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.
my kids were all so content to play on the diving boards that i bought myself some goggles from the front desk and swam laps for 30 minutes… and it was awesome.
i have never put on goggles before?! what is up with that?
it made a HUGE difference.
i kind of like swimming now. :)
then dinner at Chili's where annie ordered a half slab of RIBS… and ate them all!
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the next day they chose to go shopping.
they really never get to do that with us so we agreed to go.
my girls were commenting on all the clothes and so happy to be there.
they tried on a bunch of clothes and shoes…each buying those shirts with their own money.
my boys left after no more than one minute.
i heard they spent most of their time at Nike and watching the games at Dave & Busters.
even though they said they wanted to shop.
i guess they forgot how awful shopping… with girls… really is.
because my girls took over an hour in just Old Navy!
we got a treat at the chocolate shop.
we picked up the boys.
we didn't eat at T-Rex.
but we looked around again.
it's a super long wait to get in so we went across the street instead.
to Sam's Club.
🙂
because when we have to feed this many people… it's what we do.
and they LOVED it.
the boys chose to get their own table away from us.
funny.
next stop was the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City.
this place is way cool.
i think we lucked out because it was sunday afternoon and it was empty.
seriously? shaquille o'neal wears size 23 shoes?!!
craig brought the car around since it was raining and freezing!
annie and talby were running up and down those steps to warm up.
the NEXT stop was SKY ZONE… an indoor trampoline park!!
this was my kids most favorite place they have ever gone!
they were all dripping with sweat when we were done.
and by we….. i mean them.
i have had five babies.
i do not jump any where at any time.
i can't even sneeze.
you know what i mean….
the next day…
i went out for a run by myself that i thought would be short.
i took a turn and it took me an extra 20 minutes to get back.
but oh well… i did it.
craig took the boys to shoot baskets at the gym and the ladies went to downtown lawrence.
i did some damage at Sarah's Fabrics.
it is the best fabric store in kansas, i am pretty sure about that.
if you disagree… plese tell me where else i need to go.
i love it because of the creaky wood floors and big windows too.
my mom shopped with the girls while i shopped for fabric.
then we met up to get lunch.
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talby was sitting here with me and i said "Bill Self just walked into this restaurant behind you"
they girls were pretty excited about it and nervous to talk to him.
but together talby and annie got brave and walked over to introduce themselves.
(he is the KU basketball coach)
he was very kind and sweet to them both.
annie said (while touching his knee)
"do you know my brother?! His name is Scott Duerksen. He came to your camp last year"
he winked at me and said "there were a few kids that came to that camp."
i said "just a couple" (about 3500…)
but he said to Annie "i am sure i would remember him if i saw him"
she was so proud.
they couldn't wait to tell the boys who they saw!
there is always wrestling going on at some point in our day.
this is scott, talby and annie wrestling while craig doesn't even notice.
we tried to go to the Nelson Art Museum but it was closed.
more window shopping at the plaza since our musuem plan was shot.
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dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.
then a decided to go see Oz the Great and Powerful at 8:25 for an 8:30 show.
afterwards they tried to run up the down escalators
and since we had the place to ourselves at 11 PM on a monday night we let them.
we went bowling on our last day.
the boys were relentless in trying to beat each other.
boys.
what is that about?
everything is a competition!
annie was most excited about the vending machine.
and we got to play the jukebox with all the popular songs they like!
taylor swift while we bowl was perfect.
all five in one shot!
that is a big deal…. they are a good group.
so proud they are mine.
it was snowing on spring break… all day long!
we left the bowling alley and went back to the trampline park again!
it's all they wanted to do.
we drove home late and everyone slept so hard.
such a good trip.
Maybe. JUST maybe… they are all old enough that we can do this vacation thing differently.
there is much less crying than there used to be.
and even less fighting.
but probably the key is finding a trampoline park WHERE EVER we go on vacation ever again.
trampolines = happiness to the Duerksen kids.
Abigail Gossard - I’m finally catching up on your blog after about a year because of my two boys, one w special needs and a 6 month old, keep me busy! I found myself randomly taping them today and realizing how quickly they’ve changed in 6 months! Thanks for the reminder and for the sweet photos of your family. .
Alison Joy - Yes, crying! Thank you for a beautiful post.
Kasey - Yep, crying. So sad to see them grow up so fast.
Michelle - HOW did you know we would cry? Spooky! I say to my husband at least every other day, “I could listen to Ted’s little voice all day long.” And I do. He’ll be three in July. His little brothers are 5.5 months – yes, twin boys. Life is good … And I LOVE that birthday cake! Happy Birthday Scott! xoxo
Whitney - I don’t even have children and I agree! For Christmas I took all of our family videos and put them on DVD… and I accidentally erased one of my favorite videos of all time 🙁 Now I wish we had more of that Mother’s Day! Memories are so important!!!
Lora - AAAAAAAA-men!
My baby is 13 and just lacks a smidge being as tall as me. I DON’T like it! He still holds my hand sometimes in public, but probably not for too much longer. Shoot those videos and take lots and lots of pictures!
ArielW - in tears…. you are so right.
and as I sit here and type this crying,
I have one girl in time out
and one boy watching veggietales,
and I know I will miss this.
off to charge the camera battery.
Rachel Reeves - I’m in tears.
I posted a video of Frankie this morning, singing, and I realized how I don’t do it enough.
I totally forget what K sounded like.
Great. I’m in tears again.
mpoggie - This made my heart beat irregularly.
Earlier today, I recorded three different phone-videos of the same bathtime and felt like an idiot. I said to myself, “This is ridiculous. Calm down with the videos, maybe.”
…Nevermind, Self. Keep up the good (obsessive) work.
Kerstie Pederson - 😉
Wendy - Amen, sister! Thanks for the reminder!
jen - Perfect post!!!!!
amanda - Needed this reminder – thank you! And I have a young man in my house with a birthday this weekend and I’m going to bring out some videos for the family to see. I’m already looking forward to it 🙂
Sierra - OH my. I just cried a little at work. I did a lot of videos when they were babies, but I haven’t been doing many lately. I definitely need to. I would hate to forget the way my 5 year old talks right now. Thanks for this public service announcement! 🙂
Heather - Oh Meg! I love you and your blog!
Trish - um… this totally made me cry.
Beth - I’m getting my video camera out when I get home. You’ve just scared me straight!
beth larson - AMEN SISTER!!!!! I could not agree more! We did video tape quite a bit when the kids were little…but now we’ve quit! What’s that all about? I have to add one other thing —print photos!
print favorites every few months- just having them stored digitally will never be satisfying in the future because the mode of storing them changes every decade or so and you kind of loose the means to print or see them easily.
In 25 years you’ll be so excited and thankful for albums full of family photos- and your kids will thank you too!!!
(the photo of the birthday boy in black and white- directly behind his cake is a-mazing!!!!!)
xo
denise@victory rd. - my son turned 15 {gulp} 2 weeks ago. crazy… where did the time go?
like yours he is still loveable. best thing about him.
my three always ask to watch videos from when they were young on their b-days. i think they like to see my ugly-cry-face.
Tonya - My oldest just graduated from college. how did you know i was crying! i cry over every little thing. I DID VIDEO TAPE AND SOOOO VERY HAPPY I DID.
tonya - happy birthday to your boy! and thanks for the reminder to capture these fleeting moments!
Routhie - Awesome photos of him blowing out the candles! I am so glad we took videos of our girls. It’s funny to look back and hear them. My oldest still had a British accent when she was 4 (gone now…sniff sniff) and we all roar laughing listening to the weird things she said.
Eryn - I’m bookmarking this post in the hopes that one day, evntually when I have my own kids, I will always be able to remember these words. Thank you Meg! 🙂
Kristine - Crying….so. Much…..my 13 year old changed his voicemail message and it broke my heart…he had a little voice and now…so deep…
Digging out the video…thanks for the reminder…and the tears…
Gina - Happy Birthday to your man child!!
kathy - Sometimes I find it is almost too much to watch the videos. I have to be in the right frame of mind or all I do is cry. So much emotion tied into it all! Love your pictures~ it is crazy to watch our babies transform right in front of our eyes.
christy - You know your audience too well. I was totally crying until I read that last bit & started to laugh. I was just thinking yesterday that I have a video cam & never use it. I will now.
Maria M - We spent last Christmas break pouring over old VHS-c tapes of the boys…so funny. Those little voices crack us up.
Tiffany - What a great public service announcement. My camera fund is almost there! You are making me want to find more ways to make a little extra money so I can finally make the plunge and get the Mark 3. Videos on my phone will have to do for now. Today Olivia was rolling down a hill and requested I take a video of her, so I did. She was wearing my old first communion dress from when I was 7, princess crown and jewels.
PS- You take the BEST birthday cake blowing-out-the-candles pictures, EVER! I have so much to learn!
Vicki Esh - How do you feel about arranged marriages? I have 3 daughters (all beautiful!), and I’m always on the look out for nice young men from Christian families. Let me know if you want to set something up. 🙂
Mia - you caught me… i was crying. and, i will now go video my babes. 🙂
Kirsten J - Oh man, you got me….I’m so totally bummed that I didn’t take more videos. Have plenty of hours of my big boy, but my baby girl? Minutes. Seriously. Only minutes saved.
tracy fisher - i think we had the same happy tear for our kids birthdays! i just blogged about our little girl growing up. 🙂 -tracy
Gale - AMEN. Well said 🙂 Happy Birthday to your cutie!
Tiffany - Very handsome, what a killer smile! The time goes by so fast, too fast!
Georgia - The pictures are awesome!
Wendi Siyajuck - I remember reading a letter from you telling me the news about Scott. I was in my college room :)Your pictures are fantastic!
Andrea - My oldest just became a teenager last week. A teenager. Sigh. Can still remember the day she was born. When they put her in my arms and the sun came through the window and lighted on her. The rush of love and protectiveness was unbelievable.
You are right about the videos. I have quite a few pictures but not many movies. Need to get the kids on that – they are the ones with the video cameras!
kristin - LOL…. you know your readers well. 😉
Amanda - Small Home Big Start - The picture of him blowing out the candles is awesome! What a great way to commemorrate his 15th birthday!
jennifer - Totally crying. And sending to my husband!
Katie S - Thank you! I got a new video camera for Christmas because my old one died right after/before(?) my third baby was born. I have not even had a chance to read about it and get it up and working. She is 9 months and crawling and I keep thinking I need to get the “good” camera working. Luckily, in this day we always have an iPhone at arms reach so she has lots of little videos, but I know those little snippets will not be enough for my heart in the future! My nap time project is to get that camera up and working!!!
lauren - You speak the truth! My favorite video is not of the ‘events’…the graduations, or awards ceremonies or Christmas pageants…it’s just of them being goofy doing nothing. Oh to have had an iPhone when they were little!
Kelly - I just shot a little video of us at dinner the other night all because of the antics of my youngest. Antics I know won’t last. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
Molly - getting the video camera out when we get home!!!!!
it is hard i try to walk the line between documenting things and living in the moment.
Ana - I’m at work now and crying with your words because I did not take vídeos… I now all I can do is to think: Where did all these years go? Was I sleeping or something? Now, I got adults around here and can not remember the sounds they make…You are so right…Thanks for sharing…
Angela A - My father-in-law brought some videos of my husband and his brother playing soccer when they were younger. And I realized at the end of the season that I should have recorded at least ONE soccer game from this season. He even brought those early enough to make me realize this in time but no. Or the piano recitals that my mom couldn’t attend–did not cross my mind. I will just stalk them with it all summer.
Lora - OH, you made me tear up. I haven’t visited blogs in MONTHS and this is what greets me! Thank you! 🙂
Southern Gal - We have the old videos that I need to convert to DVD. The kids love to watch themselves. I feel sorry for our baby who has lots of video when he was little and then I became a bad video mom. I try to catch it now even though he’s 11 and almost to that man stage. Ah. yes, you make me tear up reading all that.
Bethany - My little ones are sleeping right now but I promise to capture them on video when they wake up. Mine are only 4 and 2 but even those years have gone by so quick.
Mel - How it all goes by in the block of an eye. Great pics!
jamie - OH MY GOSH how did you know i was crying??!!!?? so true! it just goes by so very fast!
Kate - Love everything about the post but I can’t get enough of the cake! a simply beautiful!
Lane - Ahh…thank you. I’m out of video tapes and I need to order more! My 2nd son didn’t make his debut on our video camera movies until he was 8 months old…sooooooo SAD!!! I have to take more videos. The few that I’ve taken of my 4 1/2 year old talking about nothing are the favorite things I’ve ever laid my eyes on.
amber - Geez. That was rough! Now I HAVE to go video my 3 year old. On the couch. Eating dry cereal. Watching Woody. Thank you. You are so right.
Meredith - I have six saved voicemails from my from my first son who is now 9. The first one was when he was 3 and they go up in years. We love listening to them. I think I am 3 phones later and still have them. Love to watch and listen to videos and movies.
Sheila - STOP IT. Just stop it now. Waaaaaaah!
Analia - Such a good reminder! I love your outlook on life! and your photos! that cake!
Shari - I am right there with you! I soooooo wish we had had the modern convenience of a cell phone with a video camera back when mine were smaller. I would give ANYTHING to have those sweet little voices again. 🙁 I have been trying to video little snippets here and there, but it is so much harder when they are teenagers and dodging you at every turn! 😉
Jenn - You are so right. Mine are still young, but I think about how I should have videoed more. Love the cake…its perfect!
Tracy - Sobbing! Such a good reminder! My kids are close to yours in age. We have videos from the very young years, but so many years lost!
Terrie G - I’m with Christine!! It’s too late for me, but not to take video of the grandson!
And you are soooo right!
I’ve got him covered with photos…I need to take more video.
I was just thinking of that this morning as I was going through my photos.
I don’t take much video…need to record!
Thanks for the reminder!
And Happy Birthday to your young man!
Christine Ishmael - How’d you know I was crying??