KC's Tales - Part 2

By Bon and Bubs

Dan arriving home with the best surprise ever!

5 Wogs and a Dog - Part 2

With lots of love and encouragement, 

Friends and family said go for it

Oh the Joy from Grammy, Poppy, 

The Godards, Susan, Shalaine

But Maw Maw just thought, we were all insane

Dad drove back 20 hours to get the dog, 

Through the night and mountain fog

KC rode in his beloved car, 

Not knowing she would go so far

We were in the pool with goggles on, 

When Mom said hurry, you must come

We ran out front and saw Dad’s car, 

He got out holding something small

Eddie squealed Pupppieee, 

Was it KC?, We couldn’t believe

Our dream came true, 

Happiness we never knew

KC came home and fit right in, 

With Ziggy her neighborhood doggie friend

Thank God for Huck who returned KC home, 

When her nose would make her roam.

Like the size of a digger, 

She grew bigger, and bigger

With all the love and food, 

She grew and grew and grew and grew!

Bonnie would walk her everyday, 

Bubba would scooter so she could play

Annie and Maggie would hug her all day, 

Eddie and KC in trouble they stayed....

The Godards , Grammy & Poppy putting together KC's crate

Kid's couldn't believe it!

KC wasn't a great walker at first!

BFF's

KC's Tales - Part 1

KC at the Cabin drawn by Bubba and Bonnie
(Bubs did the drawing and Bon colored!)

This is the story of Kaley Creek (KC) Wohlgemuth, the hound dog that found a home! KC joined the Wohlgemuth Family on July 18, 2010.  The 5 Wogs, Bonnie, Bubba, Maggie, Annie and Eddie, begged their parents for a dog for years. Having their hands full with five kids, they never considered it until....their vacation to the mountains!  A hound dog puppy adopted the 5 Wog kids and here’s how their story unfolds! 

Simpson's Cabin

The Story of 5 Wogs and a Dog - Part 1

To the cabin in the mountains we went, 

For our annual vacation we spent

Our days in the creek, feeding the horse, 

Maw Maw cooked pies and cobblers of course

Over the hill, and through the woods, 

The puppy came running to where we stood

Maggie was brave and scooped her up, 

But Annie dropped her on her rump

The kids carried her back and she never left, 

Especially her nice warm bed

That Bonnie carefully made, 

A towel neatly folded inside a crate

Kaley Creek was to be her name, 

KC for short, it would remain

She adopted us, never leaving our side, 

Content and happy, in pure delight

Dad tried to withstand the swirl, 

But fell in love calling her “My Girl!”

Even Bubs was caving, on his dog hating,

And Eddie finally had a younger sibling

Mom was trying to be strong and resist,

The concern and worry did persist

We left her for home, and all of us cried

But three days later, got a BIG surprise....

Maw Maw making one of her awesome apple pies

Annie finally got the hang of it!

The bed that Bonnie made KC

KC was in heaven

KC's Tales - The Foreword

KC joined our family a year ago on Monday.  Over the next few days, I am going to share her story.  Last Christmas, the kid’s and I worked on a book, with pictures about how we met her.  It was a group family project and we had a blast!  We made Mac books and gave them to the grandparents and to Dan for Christmas. If they hadn’t been $30 a pop I would have sent one to Oprah because it’s a great love story but since she was on the way out of ruling the world with her talk show, I passed!   I have always thought that KC looks like a dog character because she is so unique.  I envisioned her having a PBS cartoon like Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Bonnie working on illustrations for the book!

We go to the Simpson’s cabin in the mountains every year. (I have gone there since I was six years old with my parents who were best friends with the Simpsons.  That should be a forthcoming blog for sure!)  My kids love it there, even though there is no TV and NO bathroom.  Yes, we use an outhouse!  I think of it as camping!  For years, we go up there and the people that live at the bottom of the mountain have different pets.  They all seem to gravitate to the cabin probably because of all the good food my Mom and Dan pumps out!!  We feed them our scraps and they hang out with us all week.  Sometimes that has been good and sometimes it’s been a real nuisance.  One dog, my kids named Nacho, was the cutest little puppy but after a few days she started nipping our ankles. We would be walking through the woods and she would fly out of the bushes and attack us.  She was playing but it hurt and it was unnerving.  There have been kitties too.  Since I am not a big animal person and would NEVER let the kids have a dog, it was nice for them for the week to play with the animals.

All that changed, last year on our vacation….tune in tomorrow for the first segment of KC’s Tales! 

Hurricane History

Bowl game 2010

People ask on a regular basis why we are such over the top, crazy Miami Hurricane fans living up here in Gator Nation.  Here’s how it all started….I was raised in a Cane house.  My Dad and Mom grew up in Miami and my Dad attended the University of Miami.  My Dad was hilarious.  He would dress up for the games in his Miami clothes and hats and decorate with his paraphernalia.  He loved to watch his Canes play football!  I was mildly interested but not really!

Bubba with Dan and Annie in his 1st Cane jersey during
Bowl Game 2006

We always joked that Dad started dating Dan before I did.  Dan got caught up in the 80’s with the rise of The []_[]. For those of you that are old enough, you will remember that the Miami Hurricanes were incredible in the 80’s but the downside was that they brought the thug mentality to college sports.  They were not mannerly, respectful college boys and didn’t play nice at all BUT they won 5 national championships and changed college football forever.  They actually wrote the rules for excessive celebration based on the Canes bad behavior during the Cotton Bowl against the Texas Longhorns. (unfortunately)  Needless to say, Dad and Dan didn’t miss a Cane game together and had great memories!

Mom gave Bubba this hat of my Dads.
Bubs couldn't believe my Dad
had a flat cap hat, LOL!

Then Bubba was born….that’s when I really became a fan!  At three years old, Dan started explaining football to Bubs and they began watching games together!  Bubba suckered his grandparents into buying him his first Miami jersey when they were here on a visit.  He wore it constantly and I had to sneak and wash it when he wasn’t looking!  Of course, Bubba was my first son and I thought all boys were this intense and fixated on what they were interested in and now 7 years later….I think his commitment to the Canes may last.

Bubba likes the whole family to dress for games, to hang posters, pillows, Ibis’s, blankets and more!  Does that remind you of anyone? (My Dad!)  It pains my heart to think of how much fun my Dad and Bubs would have together going to games.  Bubba is sure his Paw Paw would have bought them season tickets!  My Dad would have enjoyed Bubba’s passion and would be so proud of him continuing the Cane family tradition!  One of the most sentimental things that happened is my mom found some of my Dad’s Miami Hurricane stationery and wrote Bubba a letter telling him how much Dad would have loved him!  Mom has passed Dad’s blankets, footballs, cups and hats to Bubba and they are some of his prized possessions.

Bubs even gives U Valentine cards!

VBS craft 2011

Bubs teachers through the years are so sweet and patient (he has had several Gators, a Buckeye and a Nole) He has to have the green or orange scissors. crayons or construction paper.  His wonderful Art teacher texts me pictures through out the year and marvels at how he works the U into every project regardless of what it is!  His VBS teacher told me she made sure she had plenty of orange and green supplies!  He even adapted the scripture they were learning and wrote on his craft, "Even though you walk in darkness you can't hide from the Miami Hurricanes."  I joked and said that is found in Cane 1:1. He even made a bet with his K4 teacher that Miami would beat the Noles and sure enough they did and she had to wear a Miami T-shirt of Dan’s the whole day at school!  One of the worse mistakes I made was in the fall of 2008. Dan BEGGED me to let him take Bubba to a game in the Orange Bowl.  It was scheduled to be torn down and this would be the last opportunity to EVER go.  I was psychotically, hormonally pregnant for the FIFTH time, freaked out about my 6 year old going in the hood where the Orange Bowl was located and I said NO WAY!  Later, a documentary came out on ESPN called The U.  We watched and Bubs learned way more than I wanted him to about his beloved Canes.  The film ends with footage of them tearing down the stadium and I glanced over at Bubba and big tears were dripping down his face.  Of course, even bigger tears came from me filled with regret.  To make up, I tracked down an authentic orange bowl seat for him for Christmas with gum still under the seat and everything.

Baby Eddie 2008

The glorious day that I found out I was having another boy! We bought an infant Miami outfit and socks and interrupted Bubs 1^st grade class and broke the news!  Bubba was ecstatic (and relieved)  Eddie has been indoctrinated ever since!  Bubs begged us to name his brother Cane too! Ed had U pacifiers, blankets, nightgowns, sippy cups, bottles and more LOL!

Bubba's 1st Miami trip 2009 (Miami beat Oklahoma)

University of Miami 2009

His dream came true in 2009.  Dan surprised him with Miami tickets and they headed off on their first road trip together.  It was the best weekend of Bubba’s life.  He tailgated at the stadium and the Canes won the game against Oklahoma!  He visited the University of Miami campus, and shopped in the bookstore!  They met our Cane neighbors who attend the U and they graciously toured Bubs around the campus!  That Christmas Santa left a package at the door and when Bubba opened it, he was very surprised by a Miami football signed by the whole team!  I thought Bubba might have a heart attack.  It was a true Christmas miracle!

Touring the campus with the Amblers 2009

Bubs in heaven seeing all Miami's awards in the Club
section on his 2010 trip.  (Miami beat North Carolina)

Bubba’s ultimate dream is to attend the University of Miami and play football.  Most people discourage him and think it’s just a childhood fantasy but as his mother I will do everything possible to help him achieve this dream.  Do I want him moving to Miami and playing a dangerous sport?  HECK NO but Dan has berated me throughout our years of parenting that I cannot allow my fears to stop our kids from trying new things and following their dreams.  I love my boy’s focus, passion and determination and will rejoice with him when he gets his acceptance letter to the U in the mail!  I know my Cane Daddy will be doing his celebratory Cane dancing in heaven too!  I sure hope he doesn’t get a penalty for excessive celebration!!  #ohappyday #TheU #missmydad

Ed = VBS Drop-out

All 4 other Wog kids loved VBS at Eddie’s age!  Ed is such a different, individual child.  He is a bit of a non-conformist and it concerns me.  I stayed with him the first day and all he wanted to do in chapel was play on my iPhone.  At one point he was playing the Black-Eyed Peas while the rest of the kids were worshipping God.   He was not a good listener when the teacher said to walk in a straight line or sit on the carpet.  His stamped handprint was a mess too.  I was envious at the other children’s perfect little hands and Eddie thought we were finger painting or something.  His best behavior surfaced at snack time with him possibly beating all the other kids pounding his chex mix and lemonade.  I think it may be from jockeying for food at the Wog house.  We made it to 11 AM and I couldn’t take it anymore and dropped him off at Mom’s.  I know most of his problem is me.  I should have probably left him or had a firm talk with him but I am tired.  5 Wogs have worn me out and I don’t have the same “toe-the-line” parenting style I had with the first few.  I asked him the second day if he was excited to go to VBS and he said, “I went to the VBS!”  He thought it was a one-day affair.  Been there, Done that!

I have recently told my Mom that I forgive her for putting me to bed at daylight.   I remember sitting in my bed looking out the window with my siblings riding their bike around and around the house.  NOW, I understand and I feel guilty because I must have been as obnoxious and chatty as Eddie.  Thank you Lord for blackout shades!  Ed hopefully won’t be as traumatized going to bed in daylight as I was!

I am making a commitment today to try and change that, to work on Ed’s listening skills, curb his iPhone addiction and discipline him when he says inappropriate things to me like, “HUSH!”  He is going to K3 in the fall and Dan said he is going to be embarrassment to us if I don’t work on his manners and back-talking this summer.  I just wish he wasn’t so darn cute!  It sure makes it hard to punish him when I am laughing amazed at his sassiness. #babyofthefamily #obnoxious #ishouldknow

Hoarder

OK so I admit it.  I am a hoarder!  I hoard pictures.  My computer is no longer able to download or save anything!  I am trying to break free but it’s very hard for me. Besides my computer being full, I was deeply disturbed by the show I saw a couple nights ago, Hoarders.  It honestly broke my heart and I have thought about the two elderly ladies ever since and pray that God will be with them.  They clearly experienced serious trauma in their life and it’s sad the way they've responded.  It has motivated me to force myself to hit the delete button on pictures and also to throw away some of the 5 Wogs school work and such.  I love pictures so much but most of my pictures are from school and church events and I don’t know many of the people in the pictures.  It drives Dan crazy especially when my computer does a slide show during the screen saver and he doesn’t recognize anyone LOL!  I am compelled to take pix and absolutely love it.  I sometimes think I missed my calling.  YES I have an external hard drive and have saved every picture since I got a digital camera in 2004. My goal, with God’s help is to go through the 18,710 items on my computer and purge…..Jesus help me! #hoardersanonymous

Water Babies!

Grammy and Poppy swimming in the pool

I grew up on the oceanfront and lived in the ocean. I only swam in a pool a few times growing up and always heard what a lot of hassle they were.  Dan’s family always had pools and he loved them!  Nine years ago, out of the blue, Dan found a great deal on a bigger house for us and was so thrilled because it had a pool.  I wasn’t excited at all.  I thought pools were pure danger for my kids and tons of extra work to maintain.  We ended up buying the house and before we moved in we started Infant Swimming Research lessons with Ms. Page Holt!  She has successfully trained 5 Wog kids to swim like fish!  I think that is the best gift you can give your child, confidence around water.  I know from a very bad experience.

Bonnie and Bubs ISR graduation!

When Bonnie was three she almost drowned at our River house.  I was with her on the shore and turned my back for just a second and her cousin Shelby asked me if Bonnie could swim.  I turned around and there was no splashing, flailing or anything.  All I saw was Bonnie’s beautiful face right under the surface of the water reaching up to me.  I dove in, dragged her out choking and gasping for air. She had no color in her face and was blue.  Finally she threw up a bunch of water and started breathing.  I sat there, holding her to my chest, realizing I almost lost my precious daughter.  It traumatized me and I as I write this seven 9 years later, I get tears in my eyes.  It was the most frightening moment of my life and I felt like a failure for not teaching her to swim.  Ms. Page changed all that and my kids LOVE swimming and LOVE our pool so much! Thank you Ms. Page!

Annie's ISR graduation day!

Eddie's ISR graduation!

As usual Dan knows best and I LOVE that pool more than anyone.  My kids swim almost everyday from March to October.  It wears them out, gives them exercise and keeps them cool on hot summer days!  It really bothered me though when Bubba told his 2^nd grade teacher that he didn’t take a shower all summer though! LOL I pray he told her it’s because he was in the pool  everyday! We had a particularly fun time today!! The kids LOVE when Dan and I get in the pool with them.  I stay in the deep end because it’s always shady! Today we played Marco Polo and I started yelling Rubio after someone would yell Marco!!  Couldn’t help it!  Then we played some volleyball!  Yes there were some tears when Annie didn’t get enough chances to do her “Power Serves!”  Dan switched the pool over to salt from chlorine and now on bad allergy days, talk about saline nasal spray!  Now Bonnie’s hair isn’t green anymore and bathing suits last much longer!!  All and all I thank God for this pool and what a blessing it has been to my family and YES Dan was right AGAIN! #fatherknowsbest