The Zany Zukowski Weblog

I think the olympics are such positive global statement. So many cultures and countries come together in a friendly competition and hopefully inspire the world to be their best in their lives. We have been watching the olympics and cheering on the Americans. We cheered for Michael Phelps and envy his eating schedule. We sang along with commercials playing: “The More We Get Together”. We watched the gymnasts and were very impressed with their strength, balance, and gracefulness. Watching the olympics with kids puts things in a whole new perspective. One of my daycare pumpkins noticed the TV one day (that Michael left on!), and instead of going outside to play he said “no Nicece let’s go watch Vollyball, look they spiked it, they spiked it! ” This little pumpkin is the same age as Freddy and he loves to watch sports, I was impress that a 2 and half year old A) knew what vollyball was and B) knew they were spiking the ball. Kids absorb things so quickly I was amazed! 

One evening Stephen and I were watching synchronized diving, and evidently Stephen was  impressed. He decided that he wants to do this diving thing. So when he gets a little older he said he and I can start  training for this event together!!! And when can he start taking diving lessons at the pool? I think he can take diving lessons at age 6, so that was easy to answer. What can a mom say, but sure when you get bigger you can train for diving in the olympics. Well I couldn’t crush his mother/son olympic dreams quite yet, and if he wants to pursue it, I’ll support it, but I don’t believe I’ll be pursuing any synchronized diving medals anytime soon. I think it’s so great that he believes he/we just need some practice and training, and nothing stands in his way and he has no reason to think he can’t. I love it! I hope he always keeps such a positive attitude and outlook. Clearly the olympic games have been a positive in our house!

As for baby, things are progressing nicely. We had our 20 week ultrasound and baby looks great. 10 fingers, 10 toes, heart, gallbladder, spine, and all the parts look great. No we didn’t ask about baby’s gender, we know we love baby, and that’s enough. The best part of the visit is to hear a doctor say, you gained 4 pounds this month, that’s perfect! Your blood pressure is perfect!  It’s not often I get congratulated for gaining weight between doctor’s visits. They think baby measures about a week ahead of the due date, but we’ll see. Baby weighs all of 15.8 oz, which is nearly a pound, so where did the other 12 pounds come from? I know I know, blood, fluid, placenta, and all that good stuff that keeps baby healthy and protected.

This past Sunday we had the great opportunity to attend the Rockies game.  We left our house early to be sure and make it for the opening pitch. We stopped for lunch in Lone Tree, near the light rail station. Halfway through the meal MIchael realized the tickets to the game were on the bulletin board at home. So we hurridly packed up our half eaten lunch and drove back to Castle Rock for the tickets. Now, I could rib Michael about this lapse in memory but it was I who once forgot the airline tickets at my grandparents house and we had to drive back through California traffic to retrieve the tickets and say a prayer that we make it to the plane on time. We did arrive late to the game,(in the 4th inning)  but remember we were there with a 2 year old and a 4 year old, they come equipped with small bladders and an enormous ability to drink fluids. After many, many trips to the potty, and much to the chagrin of the folks in neighboring seats, we did manage to catch a few innings of action. At the top of the 8th inning, we packed up and left, for the potty of course, but also because we know a firefighter who also works for the Rockies. Our friend said he was working and to stop by the dugout at the end of the game.  We made our way down to the premiere seats and waited for the game to end. We weren’t allowed down the aisle without tickets to seats in the area. A very kind stranger pity on us and as they were leaving they gave us their tickets! We got to sit right behind the Rockies dugout, if only for a few minutes. The game ended and loads of folks rushed up to the front hoping for autographs. We waited and watched. Our friend appeared on the field and gave the boys each a game ball. They weren’t autographed, but the boys were thrilled. As if that wasn’t already the end to a great day, we boarded the train back toward home and a Rockies staffer got on the train with us, an he gave the boys another game ball. We decided the ball was for the new baby, and passed it around on the train. We had to chase a few stray balls en route back to Castle Rock, but it was worth the trouble. We had a great day at the ball park, and got to bring home souveniers!

A couple of weeks back we met up with my cousin Colleen and her family in Georgetown. We planned to ride the Georgetown loop, and as is often the case with so many people meeting the schedule was a bit precarious, but we managed. The 4 boys had fun and people tried to guess who the cousins were and who the brothers were. It seems Colleen and I both have a darker haired and a lighter haired kid. We just giggled at the questions. You see we have some experience with these questions, when Colleen and I were younger we were often mistaken for sisters, instead of cousins. You’ll notice her older son ’snacking’ on an apple. This is after eggs, sausage, and pancakes for breakfast, a banana for snack before the train ride then the apple during the ride. He seems to have one of the enviable metabolisms where he is always hungary, eats all the time, and gains only in height, at this point. We escaped the Denver heat wave and enjoyed the mountains for a day!

On the ride home my van had no cool air blowing out and unfortunetly this is the third year in a row that we’ve had this issue with the AC. Hopefully we will have it resolved soon!

Michael always finds himself busy with one project or another. He recently finished a convertible crib for his sister. Well it’s a gift to his sister, Lea, but really our niece, Katie,  will hopefully sleep in the crib.  His sister, Lea, loves elephants so he found a picture of an elephant and used his scroll saw to carve out the picture in wood. I think it looks great. The crib plans are the same plans he used for our crib. It is initially a crib, then converts to a toddler bed, and finally to the head and foot board for a bed. Now if he could  just find time to finish the basement and make me a sewing and quilting palace.