We Are The Bruski's: November 2008

Koen turned four back in September and it was just before that before he began to show any interest in writing his name. I would try to work with him, but he didn't have the interest so I backed off and continued to try to show him and help him. One day right after the beginning of September he decided he wanted to learn and he learned his name quite easily. He is now writing most of his letters and he has taken up drawing. He really likes to draw pictures and tell a story about the pictures. It is so hard to realize or even really fathom how far a child progresses in four short years. They are born totally helpless and in such a short amount of time they learn so much. They learn more in their first few years of life than they are ever to likely learn for the rest of their life. The great thing is that most of the time they are more motivated to learn at this age too! Every new discovery is so amazing to children. I love watching his face as he sits and really concentrates on his "artwork".

Koen seems so smart and Gannon wants to follow in his footsteps so closely. I really like the way they drive each other. I just hope that I can instill values in both of them that will give them the desire to be good people- as strongly as they have a desire to learn and do new things.

We have had another busy week- as usual! The kids enjoyed Halloween last Friday. Last Saturday we all drove to Oologah (about 15 minutes North of Owasso) to Dog Iron Ranch &Will Rogers Birth Place. Will Rogers who was an actor on Broadway, starred in Hollywood movies as well as a radio commentator and he was very well known for his lasso skills was born there in Oologah in 1879 in a beautiful house (built in 1870) that still stands today. The Ranch and home are situated on a bluff overlooking Oologah Lake. We were hoping that more of the trees would have been turned, however very few were- it was still a pretty site. When we got there it was mid morning and we were surprised to find that it was so foggy we could not even see the lake. The boys weren't quite sure what to think about the house and the "odd" looking kitchen and bed- as it does not look anything like our modern day appliances and furnishings. We then went out to the barn, which Koen was quick to point out looked very much like the barn on the new Charlotte's Web, which it really did- if I didn't know better I might have thought that it was filmed there. We also went around behind the barn where there were some chickens running around along with a horse. As we approached the fence bordering the property we saw what I first thought was a cat. As it stood up to look at us and then quickly get away into the brush I realized it was not a typical cat but a bobcat. We think by the way it was hunkered down in the grass that it was thinking of having a chicken for a mid-morning snack! We finished by visiting the animals that were wandering around in the front- some donkeys, a horse and two baby goats and their mother. Will Rogers is famous for his quote-

"I never met a man I didn't like."

As we were reading the historical marker with this inscribed on it I realized this describes Koen very well- he makes friends so easily and is not shy at all. As we walked down to look at and pet the animals I thought to myself... we could change that quote for Gannon and it would say:

"I never met an animal I didn't like."

He is so gentle with animals, doesn't seem to have a fear of any animal and animals seem to sense this. Maybe one day he will be a vet- who knows.

We enjoyed our time there. It was Will Rogers Day- or so it was supposed to be and that is why we went out there. It was kind of strange though because we did not see a single soul until we were about to leave and then one car with a couple of people were there. It was nice and quiet and peaceful though. We may go back after some of the trees change more- if they don't lose all of their leaves first. So many of the trees were damaged by the ice storms and I am noticing that again now that I am looking for fall foliage.

I'll end by writing about the ladybugs. In the bathroom building and the barn as well as by the doors and windows of the house there were TONS of ladybugs- I wished I would have taken pics. Most were not alive but a few were still moving around a bit. It was the weirdest thing I had ever seen- as far as ladybugs go. I would love to know why there were so many and what happened to them- if anyone knows of an explanation for this leave me a comment and let me know!

I hope you enjoy these pics from our trip to Will Rogers Birth Place.