Leah and Eli Take the Train

Leah took Eli on his first train ride today from St. Louis to Kansas City. Eli was so psyched with his Thomas back pack! We had a little coffee and breakfast across the street from the Kirkwood Station and then walked to the station.
I jumped at the chance to take them to my favorite train station in my favorite town---Kirkwood, Missouri. I was happy to see there were several Missouri Pacific signs around (my dad, grandfather and great-grandfather worked for Mo-Pac)



We even got to see several freight trains go by (the building across the tracks is where we had breakfast)Eli and Leah even took a little walk.


But, finally we heard the gates coming down and knew it was their train coming.
All Aboard!


They took off at 8:54! Right on time!
I walked back to my car wishing I was on that train, too. . . . maybe next time.

Roman AKA Dash

Eli, Roman and Grandpa, Feb. 2009

Our Grandson Roman (pictured above helping Grandpa with some extra blowing power) is almost Superhuman in speed and strength. He reminds us of Dash on the Incredibles which is funny because our grandson Brett used to call Roman's mother "Elastigirl", Dash's mother. In the photo below, Elastigirl AKA Rebecca is in red coat; Dash AKA Roman is confined to the stroller.

Roman, Leah, Eli, Rebecca, Feb. 2009

Click here for an Incredibles Family portrait, (sorry, I don't want to upload the photo---Disney people are "Incredible" at suing for their images) Here's a video of Dash.

While we were at the zoo, Roman did really well if you don't count throwing his half-eaten banana in the bear pit---hey, it was feeding time anyway, but we did tell a zookeeper. As I mentioned in the previous post, he did, however, manage to climb in with the horses at Longview Park. Rebecca really could have used those Elastigirl powers to get Roman out of the paddock: an Elastigirl grab would have been far better than "trotting" through the muck.

But, even at our house, he showed his superhuman speed. Before I could blink, he had every doll in the house in the Family Room and covered them with a towel (OK, he missed a few in a box 7' high on a shelf---he doesn't have X-ray vision or flying powers, yet.)

Another time, I noticed Roman was trying to put batteries into a Fisher-Price train. I didn't think batteries and a 2 year-old were such a good idea. So, I told him, "No, Roman---let's not play with the batteries."
So, I looked up again, and he'd "dashed" into the kitchen and now had a screwdriver! "No, Roman, let's not play with the screwdriver."
So, he put it down and came back with a Sharpie! (note the batteries and screwdriver are on the box---he does listen!) "No, Roman, let's not play with a Sharpie!" OK, a little squiggle under the train won't hurt it.
Finally, he had a pencil which I'm sure some Grandmas would have also said, "No!", but we pick our battles. Notice the determination and focus in this child! I can't tell you how many students I've had in middle school who haven't had the determination and focus of this two-year old!

Now, you may think Grandma needs kiddy locks, but I can assure you that this child is not only fast, but he is strong and smart---he's never seen a kiddy lock that he can't crack with either strength or wits. All of this strength, speed and intelligence will someday be an asset, but in a two-year old. . .

We love you Roman---you make life so . . . .interesting and INCREDIBLE! Now, if your mom just had some of that Elastigirl grabbing ability. . .

Longview Park

All of my grandchildren love Longview Park in Town and Country, Mo. My daughters love it, too. Every time we go we see someone we know. At Christmas, Rachel saw a friend with her little boy who is living in Maine. Last week, Leah and Rebecca saw at least 5 people they knew including one who recognized Rebecca from Facebook!


First, there's a beautiful trail through the woods with a fountain. Eli seemed to enjoy the puddles the most. He started channeling Gene Kelly in "Singing in the Rain." Click for a review of the routine.



Second, there's a playground with a nice soft surface with picnic tables nearby.

Roman, Davis, Brett, Libby Summer 2008

Finally, there are horses! The kids love feeding and petting the horses.
Roman: "Mom, I can't reach the horse---he's going out of the stall."

"Hmm, maybe I can reach him outside in the paddock."

"Hey, there he is, I'm just going to dash through this fence and . . . "Sorry, there are no photos of Roman crawling through the fence and standing under the horse, with his mother shreiking and running through the muck. It was pretty scary and not just a little yucky. I'm thinking Roman might benefit from a harness like I used to wear.

Jaclyn and Cousin Steve in harnesses, 1947

St. Louis Zoo

Even in the winter, the St. Louis Zoo is a wonderful place to visit and learn. In the photo above, Rebecca, Roman, Leah and Eli are greeting the rhinos. We thought it was a coincidence that when we sang out, "Ha-ll-oo", a rhino appeared. We did it 3 or 4 times and each time a rhino would trot out until we saw some zookeepers who told us, they were being trained to come out when called!
Our next visit was at the hippo tank. At first we didn't understand why there was straw floating around and fish in with the hippos.

But (get it. . . butt), we later found out what the connection was with even a little display:
The elephants were next---3 or 4 were in an enclosed area.

We also visited the penguins and puffins which was an indoor and outdoor exhibit.
The boys really enjoyed the carousel! Each of the animals was different and if you looked up high, they were each identified---the animals not the boys!The boys still had one treat. Eli: "Psst, Roman, where'd your mom go?"
"I saw her headed out with the stroller. Relax Eli, we'll meet her at the end of the line."

"Meanwhile, Eli, hold on tight! Let's choo-choo through the zoo in the Lou---hey that sounds like a song!"

United States Presidents

Harry S. Truman is my favorite president and not just because he's from Missouri. He was a man who spoke his mind and was honest. One of my most vivid childhood memories was a day when I realized he wasn't going to be president any more. . . I cried. My mom was ironing and we were watching the Democratic convention on TV (at that time it was on all day---every channel) and Mom had just explained to me that we were preparing for a Presidential election. Truman was the only president I'd ever known, it was like a grandparent dying---I felt very insecure about his leaving office.

I never cried over another president until Kennedy's assassination. Although I was too young to have voted for him, I did buy into the whole "Camelot" concept ( I am a King Arthur fan so it doesn't take much). His assassination seemed so senseless. I can recall walking across my college campus when someone passed me and said, "The President's been shot." I remember many of us gathered around the televisions hoping that this was some cruel joke, hoping that he was just injured, but it was no joke and again I felt exposed and vulnerable.

Like my mother before me (click here for her presidential preferences), I lean to Democratic candidates, but voted for several Republican ones---Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush are two that I voted for---both seemed like good, stable men.

A few years ago, I learned that I'm related to the Bushes and that dynamic Harrison duo---mostly through the Maupin side of the family (Benjamin Harrison is below in case you don't recognize him).

And, finally, we come to our current president that so many have so much hope for. Sure, I voted for him---I will always vote for the most centrist, stable candidate regardless of party. As I've aged, I've learned to appreciate the compromiser, the peace-maker.

But, I'll, still, never forget my first presidential love---Harry S. Truman---"Give-'em-Hell-Harry" who was recently named one of the 5 best presidents!

Happy Valentine's Day from Jane!

My sister makes the most beautiful Valentine's. The one above is actually my favorite---I love the textures!
She is so creative and loves crafts---that gene is recessive in me but my daughter's inherited it to the max!
I didn't realize until I talked to her this year that this is an activity she enjoys so much that she won't ALLOW herself to get started until she has all of her Christmas decorations put away.
People used to always say, "Yes, Jane is artistic and musical, but you write so well." My sister is no slouch at writing either---she writes beautiful notes that are almost lyrical.
This is probably the only holiday we BOTH enjoy. She loves Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day.
I'm more into Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and Easter.
I have been known to make Valentine's, but if you get a home-made Valentine from me, it is a real gift of love because I did not ENJOY making it!
The one below is another one of my favorites.
When it was opened, it unfolded to our wonderful family
That's another thing we have in common---we love our family and anytime we get together, it's a cherished treat!