And look who got to come along with us...
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Fun at the Phelps
We are in Cedar Falls this week while the kids are on Spring Break, and today got to pick Anna up after preschool and head to the Phelps Youth Pavillion in Waterloo.
And look who got to come along with us...
And look who got to come along with us...
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My eyes were cold
That's what she told me.
Apparently wearing a pair of lovely *vintage* glasses upside-down warms them up.
Apparently wearing a pair of lovely *vintage* glasses upside-down warms them up.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Kangaroos and peacocks and squirrels, oh my!
When Anna and Ethan were here to visit, we headed to the zoo. (We did this 2 years ago when Jen came with the kids, too - it was much easier this time!)
Last time we went, we had 2 double strollers in tow. This time we just took one, figuring Sam and Anna would walk, Ethan would ride, and Sadie would go back and forth between walking and riding. Little did we know I would push all 3 big kids - a combined 120 pounds - in the stroller most of the way (I think we exceeded the weight limit of the thing by a good 50 pounds) and Jen would carry Ethan for all but about 15 minutes of the 4 hours we were there. (He didn't sleep well the night before and it was the best bet for avoiding a complete meltdown.)
The kids had a great time. Anna got to see - and pose in - and ride on - her favorite animal, the kangaroo. The kids got to chase a peacock down the sidewalk, and the animal that got the biggest reaction of the day was the squirrel that approached our picnic table at lunch. ("A squirrel!!! A squirrel!!)
The three big kids had to pose on the lion on the way in...
...and then in the kangaroo.
Everyone (but me - the photographer) in Tropic World.
The kids wanted to take pictures at every single hole-cut-out-for-your-face-thingee that they found.
And they liked to get various kid combinations.
Though Sam apparently prefers posing with someone else. (I'll spare you the other 12 similar photos on my camera...)
No visit to the zoo is complete without an ice cream stop. (Sam thinks the main purpose of the zoo is to play at the park, get ice cream, and ride the carousel. All three had to be used as bribes to stop complaining about taking time to look at the animals.)
The giraffes are my favorite, so every trip to the zoo includes a stop there.
And - as alluded to - a stop at the carousel before heading out.
Finally - loaded up for home!
Last time we went, we had 2 double strollers in tow. This time we just took one, figuring Sam and Anna would walk, Ethan would ride, and Sadie would go back and forth between walking and riding. Little did we know I would push all 3 big kids - a combined 120 pounds - in the stroller most of the way (I think we exceeded the weight limit of the thing by a good 50 pounds) and Jen would carry Ethan for all but about 15 minutes of the 4 hours we were there. (He didn't sleep well the night before and it was the best bet for avoiding a complete meltdown.)
The kids had a great time. Anna got to see - and pose in - and ride on - her favorite animal, the kangaroo. The kids got to chase a peacock down the sidewalk, and the animal that got the biggest reaction of the day was the squirrel that approached our picnic table at lunch. ("A squirrel!!! A squirrel!!)
The three big kids had to pose on the lion on the way in...
...and then in the kangaroo.
Everyone (but me - the photographer) in Tropic World.
The kids wanted to take pictures at every single hole-cut-out-for-your-face-thingee that they found.
And they liked to get various kid combinations.
Though Sam apparently prefers posing with someone else. (I'll spare you the other 12 similar photos on my camera...)
No visit to the zoo is complete without an ice cream stop. (Sam thinks the main purpose of the zoo is to play at the park, get ice cream, and ride the carousel. All three had to be used as bribes to stop complaining about taking time to look at the animals.)
The giraffes are my favorite, so every trip to the zoo includes a stop there.
And - as alluded to - a stop at the carousel before heading out.
Finally - loaded up for home!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Slumber Party
Our friends Anna and Ethan are here for a couple days and the big kids get to have a slumber party each night - quite exciting for these two!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Is it summer yet?
Because I can't wait for the days of plentiful watermelon!
(Yep - those are all hers!)
(Yep - those are all hers!)
She's starting them young
Because she knows their mother will NEVER teach them how to play Scrabble....
Monday, March 7, 2011
On dog and cats
Sam has recently noticed that our dog, Gus, seems to prefer him over anyone else (or at least, chooses his bed to snuggle into at bedtime).
With a recent trip to my brother's (who has a cat) he has also been recently reminded of his dislike of cats, since he seems to be allergic to them and they make him sneeze - a lot.
The other night we had an interested discussion on heaven. It started with a discussion of my grandparents...
Sam: But your grandmas and papas are in heaven, right?
Me: Yes.
Sam: And you can find them when you go to heaven. But it might take you a long time to find them.
Me: Oh - I bet they'll come find me right away.
Sam: When I get to heaven, I'm going to find Ashton and Braxton and we'll play video games in a secret video game place.
Me: That sounds fun. (Trying not to take it personally he wasn't going to find me first . :)
Sam: (Looking at Gus snuggled up against his legs) Will Gus be in heaven?
Me: I don't know what happens to dogs.
Sam: I think when dogs die, they go to heaven.
Me: Sounds good to me.
Sam: And I think when cats die, they should just go away.
Me: Really?
Sam: Yep - just go away.
Me: OK.
Sam: And after I find Ashton and Braxton and Gus, then I'll go to Matt. (His uncle - the other heavenly video-game player, I guess. Again - no mom? :)
With a recent trip to my brother's (who has a cat) he has also been recently reminded of his dislike of cats, since he seems to be allergic to them and they make him sneeze - a lot.
The other night we had an interested discussion on heaven. It started with a discussion of my grandparents...
Sam: But your grandmas and papas are in heaven, right?
Me: Yes.
Sam: And you can find them when you go to heaven. But it might take you a long time to find them.
Me: Oh - I bet they'll come find me right away.
Sam: When I get to heaven, I'm going to find Ashton and Braxton and we'll play video games in a secret video game place.
Me: That sounds fun. (Trying not to take it personally he wasn't going to find me first . :)
Sam: (Looking at Gus snuggled up against his legs) Will Gus be in heaven?
Me: I don't know what happens to dogs.
Sam: I think when dogs die, they go to heaven.
Me: Sounds good to me.
Sam: And I think when cats die, they should just go away.
Me: Really?
Sam: Yep - just go away.
Me: OK.
Sam: And after I find Ashton and Braxton and Gus, then I'll go to Matt. (His uncle - the other heavenly video-game player, I guess. Again - no mom? :)
No self-esteem issues here
Sam and I were discussing that Grandma and Papa were going to come this weekend. I informed him that Saturday Joe and I would be going to a meeting all day so Grandma and Papa would be taking care of him and Sadie.
His response: "Man, they are SO lucky!"
His response: "Man, they are SO lucky!"
Friday, March 4, 2011
Hot chocolate art
I really would have given her some paint, had she asked...
Sam had more conventional supplies....
Sam had more conventional supplies....
Water fun
What to do when you really want it to spring and warm enough to play with water in the backyard - but it's still COLD?
Raid the cabinets and make a mess in the kitchen instead!
Raid the cabinets and make a mess in the kitchen instead!
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