Brains vc. Brawn

Lately I've been struggling with the fact that my kids are growing up as "city kids" - complete with the attitudes of city kids. Now don't get me wrong, my kids are fantastic. They are really good, for the most part, but every now and then, I find myself wondering if I'm raising a couple of wienies who can't stand getting dirty or being uncomfortable for more than 5 minutes.

My childhood was so different from theirs. I grew up on a cotton farm. For as long as I can remember, I spent my summers in the field. Before I started school, I played in the dirt on the turnrows while my 2 older brothers and parents hoed. Once I started school, then I was old enough to hoe my own rows, so I walked the cotton field with a hoe in my hand, chopping up weeds. During harvesting, I "tromped" cotton with my brothers - this was in the days before module builders so you had to physically mash all of the cotton you could into the trailers. You did this by jumping up and down on it - or "tromping" it.

I just remember it as a part of life - I didn't get paid for the work I did, it was expected as part of the family. I didn't have the opportunity to say "no" to going to the field. It never would have occurred to me, honestly. Some of my best memories are in the cotton field - chasing rabbits, catching lizards, singing silly songs. Yeah, it was hot and there were bugs and it was uncomfortable, but I never died. I survived it. And today I feel like I'm a stronger person for having grown up on a farm.

So when I think about my kids' life, I want them to have some of that. I want them to have a good work ethic. I want them to be strong in character. This week, they are at Grandma and Poppa's on the farm. I told my mom to take them to the field with them, to make them work and, heaven forbid, get a little uncomfortable. Of course, Grandma can't do that to those kids! Oh yes she can.

So as I'm talking to A about it - she tells me she doesn't want to go to the field. I tell her it's an opportunity to do something she's never done before, a chance to help Poppa with his crops, I tell her about all of the animals she might see. Still, Resistance. Whining. Squirming. Complaining. And she hasn't even stepped foot in the field yet. I tell her that going to the field will make her a stronger person.

She looks right at me and says "I don't want to be strong, I want to be smart." DOH!

I tell her she can be both! That she comes from a long line of strong women and she'd better just get used to being strong. Again, she tells me she'll be smart instead.

Finally, I pull out the big guns - I tell her that if I hear that she refused to go to the field, that she whined and complained, that she didn't work when asked to, then there would be no TV for the rest of the summer.

Resistance is Futile. Mom wins again.

Planes, no Trains, Automobiles, and few Roller Coasters

So, settling back into life after our crazy, fantastic trip to San Diego...it was our very first attempt at a full-fledged vacation with the kids where we flew, rented a car, and stayed in hotels...and, despite all of my pessimism going into it, it was awesome!!! I have to say, I was so proud of my kids...even though they had to be exhausted (if how I felt was any measure), they kept their bad attitudes in check, there was little sibling in-fighting, and the trip was really really great...

SO - while there, we saw La Jolla Cove amd the sea lions, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World San Diego, the USS Midway, took a harbor tour, spent an afternoon at Coronado Island on the beach, and spent 2 days at Legoland...and had an amazing time!!!

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the adventures...

First airplane ride for both of my kids...we got to fly over the Grand Canyon and saw it from 28,000 feet!!!

First ocean experience for either of my kids....neither had ever even seen one before, much less put their feet into it...this was by far my favorite part of the trip - watching their faces and seeing the joy and wonder in their eyes as they tried to wrap their brains around how HUGE and mysterious the ocean is...

Getting REALLY up close and personal with a hippo at the zoo....

Sitting in the "Soak Zone" at Shamu's show yet somehow not getting soaked!!!

We were able to tour the USS Midway - a naval aircraft carrier made into a museum. The kids loved being able to get up into some of the airplanes and pretending to fly....By the time we left there, it was "Captain W" and "Commander A"....

Some good beach time on Coronado Island...A must have walked up and down the beach a dozen times, retrieving every shell she could find...the water was really cold but this was a blast..with the exception of the seagulls who decided to eat all of our potato chips while we walked on the beach..and then, after I chased them away, they continued to stalk us for the rest of the afternoon, just hoping for a treat..

Some good swim time at the resort's pool...a nice, heated 82 degree pool....much warmer than the ocean!

And, last, but certainly not least - LEGOLAND!!! The kids LOVED this place...and you cannot even dream in your wildest imagination all of the things that were made out of legos there...no joke. Here are a few samples...

Anyone who knows W well at all knows that he is all about Star Wars...afterall, he is an official Jedi Knight!

Dad was a bit worn out by all of the adventures..so he found this nice Lego Man to take a nap next to... :)