Josh and Becca Thrap and Family

Crying Over Milk

Becca — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:46:43 +0000

Crying over milk, spilled or otherwise, just milk. Just a heads up, I may be using the blog to vent through some of the emotions I’m dealing (not well) with since learning of my many food allergies. I know things could be worse and blah blah blah, don’t really wanna hear all that right now. So, if you don’t want to hear me whining about what’s really going on with me, then please do feel absolutely free to ignore any future food posts.
For those of you without Facebook who may not have heard, (long story cut short) I have been allergy tested not only for environmental allergens, but also for foods. No big surprise, I reacted positively to many types of allergens: dust mites, cats, dogs, grasses, molds, trees, weeds, and fungi. I also responded to tomato, cantaloupe, peas, green pepper, carrot, coffee, peanut, coco bean, and lactalbumin–a protein in DAIRY! And the only treatment for food allergy is avoidance, so… that is a lot for me to learn how to avoid. I’m really struggling with trying to figure out what I’m left with. I’ve started to make a list of things that I can eat, but they don’t easily turn into any meals. In a fit I drove to Hy-Vee’s health market to try different expensive milk substitutes and to check out other dairy substitutes, only to find that non-dairy cheeses and vegan butter use pea protein. I bought four different kinds of non-dairy milk (coconut vanilla, almond, almond vanilla, and rice) and while the rice is still chilling in the refrigerator because it did not come chilled, I tried all the others and…literally stood crying over milk. Yuk. I feel like such a baby.

Too Cool For School?

Becca — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:49:23 +0000

For some reason I really thought that I had updated the blog with pictures from the first day of school. It’s a tradition, you know? But I guess the instant accessibility of Facebook is kind of leaving the blog behind. Still, I don’t like to put too much on fb, and I feel (justified or not) that I can write more freely here on “OUR” blog, so I will try to continue updating here as well as fb.
Jacob started 7th grade this year. The schools in Ankeny are broken up K-5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12. Ankeny is also in the process of splitting into a two-school community, the Hawks and the new Jaguars. There are now two 6-7 and two 8-9 schools, and next year there will be two high schools. Jacob is not particularly happy about this because he says that most of his friends are now Jaguars and he is still a Hawk.
Elise is now in 5th grade–her chance to rule the school, and start band! She plans to learn the clarinet, but so far the only thing I’m hearing from her about is how bothered she is by having to share her one and only recess with the 1st graders–specifically her little sister!
Cameron has begun 4th grade and is now taking his turn with the recorder. He has the same teacher Elise had last year (and last year he had the teacher she’d had the year before)!
Elena, as I mentioned, is in 1st grade now. She had all-day Kindergarten, so the school routine is really nothing new. She has started to receive homework and reading assignments though, and while its not too hard for her, it definately is more work for me that I hadn’t prepared for.

How Was Our Day? It Was “Fair!”

Becca — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:37:20 +0000

Soooo I really haven’t kept my promise from New Years to blog more often (obviously)! Here it is August already! But my dad said I really ought to blog about our day so…here we go!
My parents came up last night (their 39th wedding anniversary!) so that we could all get up early this morning to go to the Iowa State Fair! Sarah and Violet had attempted to stay also, but Violet just had some immunizations and exposure to a virus and was acting sick and cranky so Sarah gave up her shot at a foot-long corn dog and took Violet home. We left Elise to spend the day with friends but the rest of us arrived at the fair right on time for the boys to perform their partner dance routines on the AE Stage at 830am. They both did great despite the unfamiliar surroundings and we stayed to watch all the performers from our studio. When that hour was up, we let the kids go to the nearby playground while we talked about what to try to see next and waited for the AE market samples to begin at 10. We decided to take a walk though the Cultural Center building–at least most of us did. Elena was feeling angry and stubborn and took off in an opposite direction and before anyone could go after her she dissappeared behind a row of port-a-potties, not to be seen again! SERIOUSLY! The remaining 6 of us paired off with cell phones looking for her EVERYWHERE! After probably 15-20 minutes with NO sight of her, we were just beginning to regroup and look at the map to find the security/lost child area when a Security Guard on a golf cart came rolling down the hill at us with Elena riding shotgun! I don’t think I’ve been so relieved and so pissed off at the same time! Elena, of course, seemed no worse for wear–Mom thought she looked awfully somber riding down the hill looking for us, but by the time she could see us and knew we saw her, she was outright smirking! She wouldn’t tell her story at first, but what we eventually got out of her was that she wanted to leave the fair and had in fact reached the exit gates and gotten stamped on the hand and left! Went about about 10 paces or so, turned around and came back in. Apparently that seemed odd to the girl who stamped her (not the fact that she was ALONE!?!) and she asked Elena if she was lost and brought over the security guard who said that Elena was able to very calmly and clearly give her name, my name, and directions to where she had left me! Which is where they found us. So. With everyone accounted for, we split up again. Mom and Dad went to listen to some live music so we went back to do the AE taste testing and then went into the Agriculture building. We found a miracle cleaning product, some beautiful floral arrangements, the butter sculptures, GIANT produce, and got some popcorn for the kids to snack on. Then we went out into the flower gardens and Mom got a giant smoked turkey leg. The kids played in a water fountain then we went looking for the beef sundaes we’d been told we should try. It took a little while, and along the way Josh got his “Pork Chop on-a-stick” but we did eventually find them. And I forgot to photograph them. The day was warm and beginning to get to us (probably mostly to Josh who had been trying to appease the smaller children by giving them alternating turns riding on his shoulders all day long!) We got the kids a funnel cake and looked a few more places, walked through the Varied Industries building, found Josh a hairbrush, and Dad got himself some miracle tools. At this point kids were threatening to stop walking again and we talked of leaving, but I hadn’t eaten any real fair food yet so we started to head back but stopped to get deep fried Snickers, Twinkies, and Oreos! Jacob preffered the Snickers while Cameron favored the Twinkie and I thought the Oreos were best. Elena really just liked the powdered sugar and Mom and Dad had some cheese and cherry tomatoes that mom found in her purse. We found some seating in the shade where we sat to share our fried snacks which happened to be at a place where they were about to start a butter carving competition. Mom and Dad sat to watch a bit of carving and later told us they also saw a one-man band, while we continued on toward the exit to see the rabbits. On our way we ran into Jason and Elise with their kids. We chatted a few minutes, but they were just getting in and we were on our way out, so we went on to the rabbits. (With a couple more stops for a corn-brat on a stick, and some wooden weapons.) Finally, the rabbits! They’re so cute! Then the last of our cash donated to the Shriners for a golf cart ride back to our parked van. Best deal of the day! So, that was our day at the fair. Wanna see some pictures? Here are a few anyway

Thrappy New Year!

Becca — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:29:43 +0000

I hope that everyone had a lovely holiday season and is making a smooth transition back to their normal daily lives. We enjoyed seeing everyone that we were able to connect with over the break, and really missed seeing those of you that we were unable to spend time with and hope that we will meet up again soon. Thank you to everyone that was organized enough to send us cards and photos! I am sorry that I was really not on top of things this year! 2010 really kept us pretty busy and 2011 seems to be off to no slower a start!

Jacob is enjoying being a 6th grader in middle school. He was excited to learn some French and Spanish but it was harder than he expected–he may have his dad’s gift for tongues rather than him mom’s! He still plays percussion in the band, played Fall soccer and is continuing with boy scouts and his boys hip hop dance classes, but his real favorite this year has been his new partnering dance class. He is the oldest/tallest/strongest boy in the class, so he can do tricks with his partner that some of the other couples can’t do yet. Despite very little free time he seems to still find time to play with friends, legos, and video games, and maintain good grades at school. He has already recieved two school honors, one for keeping an average above a B, and the other nominated (almost unanimously!) by his teachers and peers as a “Star” for the first quarter.

Elise donated 12 inches of hair to Locks of Love this Summer. She has enjoyed learning the recorder in 4th grade and is beginning to consider her band options for next year. She changed her dance classes this year also and is attending a musical theatre class instead which focuses on dancing, singing, and acting. She was also chosen to be part of a group of students from her school to sing the national anthem at a high school girls’ basketball game. Elise is still a very good student. On Wednesday mornings when the rest of the children get to sleep in for a “late-start day,” Elise gets up early to take part in the nationwide Math Olympiads. She has also discovered, with the help of some friends, several online and video games that feature animals in natural habitats that allow her to play as a wolf or a whale etc. She still runs around on all fours and loves to explore and read about wolves and animals and tell stories of her own. She is excited, now that she has turned ten, to be allowed to stay up with Jacob until 9pm.

Cameron grew some this year and is now actually wearing the clothes made for his age! He follows in many of the footsteps left by his older siblings, but is very much his own little guy! Like his siblings he does well in school–now in 3rd grade, he has some of his good friends in his class that he has not shared a class with since Kindergarten! He has also made some new friends but remains a model student. He received another “Character Award” this year (his third!) from a school-wide drawing of children “caught doing good deeds.” He also played Fall soccer and takes part in cub scouts. Cameron still enjoys his boys only hip hop and tap dance class but has chosen also to join Jacob in the partnering classes newly offered this year. Like his sister, he enjoys reading about wolves, but his favorite things to play are “Link” related. From the “Legend of Zelda” video games he loves not only the video games, but the books and dressing up in his own created costumes and weilding his little sword and sheild and jumping around yelling “ha-e-ya!”

Elena started Kindergarten this year! She loves painting and drawing and brings home several pictures every day! She’s learning to enjoy reading books and writing letters. She continues well with her dance classes, but prefers to dance freely on her own usually while serenading everyone with her mind’s latest hits. As always, there is a constant song in her heart and on her lips. We sometimes call her our “little diva.” Elena is looking forward to being a flowergirl with her cousin Charley in her Aunt Jenny’s wedding on Saturday.

2011 is shaping up to be a full year of weddings and babies and celebrations! As I mentioned, Josh’s sister Jenny is getting married this coming weekend, and Josh’s brother Brian is planning a wedding of his own in June! My friend Kate is planning her wedding for October and my sister is expecting her first child any day now. (We just hope she can hold on until we get back from Jenny’s wedding!) Several friends and relatives are having momentous birthdays this year, Josh’s buddy Chris got his nursing license and just got his first real nursing job, and our friends the Hintzes will be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary (hopefully in Costa Rica, and hopefully with us)! Anyway, this is just a bit of what we already have going on or planned and it’s still just the first week of January! I do hope to blog more regularly in the coming year, so do please check back often and leave plenty of interesting comments! We love to hear from you!

1/1/11

Becca — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:33:26 +0000

I hope to soon add a thoughtful letter with our holiday photo for friends and family, but as always, I am running late. So for now, just a quick shout-out to all my beloved blog readers. Happy New Year! I hope it finds you well. I look forward to a full new year of virtual communication with you all!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Becca — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:56:04 +0000

Today Jacob turns 12. It amazes me how much he’s grown and changed since birth. He was a sweet baby, a charming toddler, a good boy and is quickly becoming a very impressive young man. I love him and am proud of him, can’t say too much, I get all blubbery. Please, enjoy with me the cuteness that has been Jacob thus far.

A Decade With A Daughter

Becca — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 06:59:47 +0000

Ten years ago I welcomed Josh’s grandma Jean to our green house in Muscatine. She arrived around 10 am and we went to Wal-Mart with little Jacob in tow. While picking up groceries for the next few days I became very aware of the recurring tightening of my very pregnant belly. That evening, back at home–Josh now home from work at the bank, we had spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner. Kate came to visit and while grandma Jean helped put Jacob to bed, Kate started keeping a written log of the frequency and intensity of my contractions, hoping to convince me to let her take me to the hospital. Around 11 pm I finally decided that if I wasn’t going to the hospital yet then I’d better try and get some sleep. About 1:30 am I woke to snowfall and knew that I’d better get a move on and I worried that the late hour and slick roads might be a bad combination for Josh to drive after only about an hour of sleep so I called my dad and he rushed us both up to the Quad Cities while grandma stayed behind with sleeping Jacob. After hours in a non-room waiting for a vacancy we finally got rolled into a room around 4am. Sparing all the more graphic details, by 4:35 the pain of labor gave way to an overwhelming experience that I have heard others describe as a glimpse of Heaven. A beautiful baby girl now resting on my chest, pain replaced with a feeling of softness, the glaring lights in the room now a kind of ethereal glow, the sweetest smell filled the room the like I have never been able to describe. From this heavenly sweet place she came to us and quickly the chaos of life restored, screaming baby, noisy nurses, messy dressings, hospital sights and sounds. But that moment of heaven is the memory that stays with me, and so has it been raising Elise. Chaos peppered with moments of sheer bliss. Anger, and joy. Frustration, and enlightenment. It’s hard to believe its been ten whole years. And so, we are celebrating the birthday of our daughter Elise–beautiful, smart, thoughtful, aggravating, generous, creative, talkative, willful, loyal, persistant, great-big baby girl Elise.
Now, anyone who knows Elise at all these days must know of her great infatuation with wolves. They have become the focus of many of her school papers, research, fiction, and illustration, the main characters in the books she reads and the games she plays, graphics on the clothes she wears and stuffed toy companions lining her bed frame. She gets so excited about wolves that she has convinced the other children how cool they are! So, when Josh and I learned that the shopping mall nearby had live wolves that you could see and pet (2 Timberwolves, an Arctic Wolf, and a baby Cougar), well, we knew just what to do for Elise’s birthday!

She didn’t love that they were caged, and perhaps being face to face with them made the reality that she herself was in fact NOT a wolf more obvious, but she said she enjoyed the experience.

Seeing Spots!

Becca — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:27:13 +0000

I should’ve known something was up last night when Elena crawled up into my lap with a blanket and fell asleep while we were watching a made-for-tv holiday movie. (Gotta love the Hallmark channel!) I mean, it was only 4:30 and she NEVER naps! But it wasn’t until the kids were eating at 6:30 that Jacob noticed the huge welt on Elena’s back. I am still not sure how he saw it (she was wearing a long sleeved shirt and long jeans!) but he sent her to show me and then I discovered a rash of welts all over her lower torso and up her sides and a huge red patch on her left shoulderblade! Of course Josh was out of town and I had a little panic attack because Jacob went right to “poisonous spider bite” etc. But I called my friend Melissa who assured me that it sounded just like hives with which she has had much experience. So I gave Elena some children’s Benedryl and she went to bed early. This morning however, when I tried to get her up for school, she looked like this:

She had it all over her arms and legs too (but those pictures aren’t as interesting ) so I took her to Urgent Care this morning and learned that it is in fact just hives, but they’ve prescribed some stronger medicine to help her be rid of them quickly. We have no idea what she may have come into contact with that caused them, but here’s hoping it doesn’t happen again!

Happy Halloween!

Becca — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:45:26 +0000

My internet connection was not working yesterday so I could not post this then. We had a pretty busy week leading up to Halloween. The kids (and Josh) got to wear their costumes to dance all week, and we went to the trunk-or-treat/chili cook-off at Josh’s church on Thursday. It was the last week for soccer (which was supposed to end the previous week but they decided to make up for the week the games got rained out). Jacob went camping with the scouts Friday night, and then we had soccer games, grocery shopping, a Halloween party, trick-or-treating, and a baby shower! This year, for the first time, our little family chose one theme for all of our costumes. Since we really enjoyed watching the Avatar: the Last Airbender cartoon together as a family, we each chose a main character. Here are a couple photos from the cartoon so you can see some of the characters we were based on.

I didn’t get to take pictures the first few times we were dressed up, so some costume elements are a bit less impressive in these photos than they might have originally looked, but we had fun and I think overall they worked out great.

Uncle Iroh, Sokka, Katara, Aang, Prince Zuko, & Toph Thrap

Uncle Iroh, Aang, Sokka & Katara, Prince Zuko, Toph

in character

The bridge to the spirit world

“Sokka” holding little “Dinah”

Katara in Wonderland

The Haul

The Sort

Trying to capture “the Avatar State”
(the arrows glowed in the dark, but I couldn’t get it in a picture, still thought he looked cute in this shot)

The Crash

Fall Fun

Becca — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:50:01 +0000

Our schools don’t do “Halloween” anymore. The kids still get a party, but now they have it the week before Halloween and call it a “Fall Party.” They don’t get to wear costumes to school, but they still get snacks and games and time off from the rigamaroll of learning. Anyway, Cameron’s teacher sent me some pictures from his Fall party, here are a couple I found particularly funny.