Friday Funnies

Phoebe was a riot today. I wish I could remember everything she said. This morning was cold. We saw some cows in the field and she said the cows were cold. Then she said "The cowboy should build them a house". The cowboy. We live in rural WV. We have farmers.

We went to the bank today and she stuck her little head up to the counter and said, "Lady, can you give me some money?". What's with the Lady thing?

I was muttering to myself in the van today and Phoebe said "Are you talking to me??"

She was eating mandarin oranges out of a cup today with a spoon. She was having a little trouble and said "These oranges are hard to catch".

We're going camping tomorrow and Owen was talking to Phoebe about where we would all sleep. He asked why I sleep with Daddy. I said because we are married. He said "And that's how you got us".

Finally, this is Owen in the bathtub this evening:

She's a Lady (with a job)

A couple funnies from today. Phoebe brought me a game piece today with a word on it and said, "Lady? What does this say?". This evening she was measuring herself with a yard stick and said "I weigh 50 pounds".

At school on Tuesday I helped out at the school library with the Accelerated Reader store. The "store" is glass case with prizes in it with the prizes having points (like Chuck E. Cheese). The kids cash in the points they've earned reading for the prizes. Owen had a good time picking out his prizes when I was there. I was behind the counter handing out the prizes and helping the kids figure out how many prizes they could get with their points. Today we were talking about his good prizes. He said "So, you've finally got yourself a job".

Zoo Trip

On Sunday we went to the Columbus Zoo. It was Phoebe's first time going to a zoo. She had a good time. She liked the manatees and the monkeys the most. Owen says he liked the rhino, the slushie, and the train ride. Chloe's favorites were the red panda and the monkeys. The monkeys are always my favorite. The kids were excellent and we had such a fun time together.



This flamingo was grouchy and pranced up and down squawking at us.



I always like the flamingos, they are such a beautiful color in person.



At the aquarium the kids got to touch several different sea creatures.





The manatees are always so neat to watch. So big, yet so graceful.



There were lots of statues to take pictures with but usually the kids didn't want to be bothered with it.



Chloe at the penguin exhibit.



Chloe and I touched a rosy boa snake. I so wish I hadn't, it gave me the creeps afterward every time I thought of it.



The carousel:



Phoebe did lots of pointing at things:



I loved this gibbon monkey. It would swing from the ropes and trees.



Chloe was put out she had ride by herself in the seat behind me on the boat ride (don't you love her shades?). They only allowed two to a seat. Danny rode with Owen, and I rode with Phoebe. If only we had a third parent (preferably a mother).







This orangutan was so cute:



Chloe with the gorilla. He ate a piece of cardboard while we watched him.



These two bonobos were so cute snuggling each other:



On the train. Owen loved the train. He kept telling us he wanted to ride the train but we worked our way to it while looking at the animals. He said "If we didn't have to look at all these animals we could ride the train".



Finishing up the trip with some slushies. Owen loved this double stroller we rented. He wanted to take it home with us.



As Danny says, a good time was had by all.

Our cat Camille

This is our cat Camille.






She was born the day after Owen's first birthday, outside underneath his bedroom window (we often see her laying/sleeping in the spot she was born). Her mother was a stray that Chloe named Star. She had four kittens, two black ones we named Ebony and Pepper, Camille, and a striped one named Tigger. Two weeks after they were born we went on vacation to the beach. My parents took care of our dog and the cats. I talked to them on the phone in the middle of the week and when I asked if everything was okay at home, Dad said Star had been ran over by a car and they were feeding the kittens with a dropper. We didn't think they would survive. When we got home I took over feeding them and bathing them. They all lived and were so cute. When they were old enough we put up a flyer for free kittens with their picture on the bulletin board at our local gas station. While I was gone one day, Danny was watching the kids, and a man called about the kittens. He came to get two of them. He wanted Camille (the prettiest one) and Tigger. Chloe grabbed the kittens, ran in the house with them and was crying and saying the man couldn't have them. Danny told the man he should come back when I was home. Finally we decided he would take Tigger and Ebony. Someone else got Pepper but Chloe wouldn't let Camille go. She put her in her bicycle basket and rode her around and played with her like a baby.

Now Camille is almost five and is quite the hunter. She lives outside and is constantly bringing us her latest catch for us to see. Mice, moles, chipmunks, a few birds, and even a couple rabbits. Chloe once had a funeral for one of the chipmunks. We watched her chase a mole the other day:






A couple days ago there was a dead chipmunk on the sidewalk. I didn't see it and almost stepped on it. When I saw it I jumped out of the way and let out a yell. Phoebe looked at me like she thought I was being silly and said "It's just Alvin". I think she's too used to dead critters being on the sidewalk. I also think she has watched Alvin and the Chipmunks one too many times.

I Believe I Can Fly

Phoebe and I have been taking long walks this week. There is a place near us that is a Locks and Dam along the river where boats come through. The area around it is a park that is nicely kept with picnic tables and a great place to walk. Many people go there to walk. This morning we were walking and Phoebe said "I see something in the sky". I told her it was a jet. She said "I love jets!". Then she saw a bird and said, "I wish I was a bird". Then a few seconds later she said "My arms can fly" and she started flapping her little arms like a bird. It was the cutest thing with me pushing her along in the stroller and her flapping her arms.

Here are a few things I've learned this week while walking (not that I'm an expert, just ask my Wii Fit's BMI).

1. Sippy cups should come as a big gulp (like those big cups from gas stations). One sippy doesn't cut it. Bringing more than one sippy isn't convenient. When Phoebe drinks she doesn't just sip a little and save some for later. She drinks until the cup is empty.

2. I have found the best sippy for myself. I have tons of water bottles that I've bought searching for the perfect one. I think I may have found it. It's Rubbermaid and it's a 20 oz bottle. It's sturdy, it has a good spout to drink from, holds the right amount, easy to hold, just a good water bottle. I got it at Kmart, but I'm sure it can be found anywhere. It was around $3.50 and you can buy a two pack.



3. If I walk an hour I can do almost four miles.

4. Having a two year old with you that needs to pee can make you walk much faster.

5. Walking makes me feel so much better!

I plan to keep walking lots, or flap like a bird, one or the other.

Our 14th Anniversary

On May 20, 1995 Danny and I got married. It was a beautiful Spring day. The weather was perfect, the sky was gorgeous. I couldn't have been happier.



We met at college the first day of my sophomore year, Danny's senior year. He called me (he had seen me talking to a friend of his) and asked me to meet him the next day. I'd never seen him before but my friend had and described him to me. I went to the lobby of his dorm the next day and from there we went to dinner in the cafeteria and we've been together ever since. I knew right away he was the man I would marry. Three years later, exactly one week after my college graduation, we got married.

He had to work this evening but we did get out to eat lunch together. Mom kept Phoebe for us. She took this picture of us. (Her dog Lucy always gets in the picture too.)




We made a quick stop to Kmart (isn't that what everyone does on their anniversary?), and rushed home to get Phoebe, and get Chloe and Owen off the bus. It was a treat to just eat lunch out just the two of us. We're hoping next year to plan a weekend away or something.

Danny has asked me before if I would marry him all over again. Absolutely.

Our Monday

Yesterday I took Phoebe to the doctor for a recheck on her ears, eyes, and her iron levels. All checked out great. She got her blood taken again and could have cared less. She's amazing. She doesn't cry, whimper, or even wince about them squeezing blood out of her. If that were Chloe at this age, it would have taken 12 people to hold her down. We were there two hours and Phoebe was great. At the end of the visit the doctor was about to leave the room but was still talking to me. My cell phone started ringing in my purse. I wasn't going to interrupt the doctor, and thought I'd call whoever it was back. Phoebe however, went to my purse, got out the phone, and answered it. Hilarious. It was Danny.

After we left the doctor's office, I had to get gas. The gas station also sells Krispy Kreme donuts. I told Phoebe we would take one to Aunt Bea (my sister Betsy) at work. Phoebe said she wanted a donut too, and I let her choose one. She chose a maple iced one. She ate the whole thing. It took her at least 15 minutes, but she ate the whole thing. After leaving the hospital (where Betsy works) Phoebe said she was hungry. I doubted it since she just ate the donut, but a diet coke from Subway sounded good to me. So we went through the drive thru at Subway. She ate the black olives (her favorite thing, and the whole reason she likes Subway) off her sub, took about four bites of the sandwich, and went to sleep.

She slept the whole way home and I put her to bed when we got home. Danny was mowing the grass so I got the dog and we took a walk. A long walk. I ended up walking to my Mom's and back, which is four miles and not much of it flat. Danny got worried about me and came looking for me. Then I ate three taco in a bags for dinner, so never mind the calories I burned.

It was such a beautiful day yesterday. It was very cool in the morning but it was sunny all day and chilly but yet warm. I love Spring days like that. After all the rain we've had, this week of predicted sunshine makes me happy.

Now, Phoebe and I are getting ready to take a walk. But it won't be four miles up and down hills.

5th Grade Field Trip

Yesterday was Chloe's class field trip. We went to Lewisburg to reenactments of the Civil War. There were different stations the kids went to. It was long and a little boring, but the kids had fun. After eating lunch there on the lawn, we went to the Lost World Caverns which the kids enjoyed. Caves creep me out a little, but this one wasn't too bad. Finally we went to Beckley and ate lunch at Ryan's. It was late by then and we were hungry. I ate enough for a week. Chloe asked what about my diet (which I follow loosely at best) and I said I wouldn't worry about it then. She said to her friend "I don't know why my mom is on a diet. I think she's skinny for her age". LOL It was a long tiring day, but fun with no problems. We were on the bus about six hours I guess. I sat with my friend and we talked the whole time on the bus, so that was nice. We left home at 5:30 am and didn't get back until after 11:00 pm. I still haven't recovered. I guess for someone of my age that can be expected. ;)

Abe Lincoln talked to the kids about his life.



Chloe outside the gift shop at Lost World Caverns



Inside the cave



At the restaurant

What happens when you don't take a nap

Phoebe is a good napper. About 12:30 or so every day she takes a good long nap. Usually 2-4 hours. While it's very nice, she's up later at night. Yesterday I was getting her to sleep for her nap, then my friend called. When I tried again, she didn't seem sleepy and I knew it would take awhile, and by this time it was getting late. I don't like for her to nap much past 1:30 because then she sleeps until dinner time, and she's up very late at night. SO, yesterday I let her skip her nap. She's skipped her nap maybe three times before. At one point yesterday late in the afternoon, she almost fell asleep in the chair. (She said she was just taking a little rest.) I took her outside and she played well all evening. I gave her a bath at 7:00 and she dressed herself and went and sat on the couch while I was getting Owen ready for bed. I found her like this:



I'm hoping for an early nap today!

Our family

Last month we had our first family portrait taken. We went to Main Street Photography where we have gone many times before. The owners are our preacher and his son, Roy. Roy does a wonderful job. I told him the kind of picture I wanted and he did exactly what I wanted. I bought a big framed portrait (20x24, I think, bigger with the frame I chose) and I picked it up today. It's just beautiful. Roy had a much bigger one made for display in his lobby. My picture was my Mother's Day and Anniversary gift. It's a gift I will always treasure.

Happy Mother's Day!

I've had a nice Mother's Day weekend. Our mother daughter banquet at church was Friday evening. Despite a huge downpour at the end of it and me falling and hurting my knee, it was a good time. Yesterday we beat the crowd and ate dinner out with Mom, Dad, and Betsy. Today was a beautiful day and we spent most of it outside. This morning we went to church and to Mom and Dad's afterward for some ice cream cake. For breakfast this morning Chloe made me waffles and fixed my breakfast so sweet, complete with sliced bananas and milk with a straw, and my napkin folded pretty. She's such a sweet, thoughtful girl. She and Owen both brought me home things they made at school. Danny wasn't supposed to get me a gift because we got a family picture taken for my gift, but he got me a watering can, flower seeds to plant, gardening gloves, and gardening tool, plus a sweet card. I love a themed gift!


Me with my babies who make me a Mommy.



At my Mom and Dad's this morning with my Mom and sister, Betsy.




Happy Mother's Day!

Rain, rain, go away

We have had tons of rain. Frankly, we're sick of it. The yard looks like a field because we can't mow it. We can't go out to play. Everyone is sick because of the damp weather. It's gloomy. On the way home from school (in the rain) Chloe was telling me that at an area in Korea there are houses built on stilts and that they stay in their houses when water is up in their homes. She said sometimes they fish from their windows. Then we talked about flooding. Owen was asking what would happen if it flooded at our house. I told him we were fine that it would never flood at our house. (We live on a hill and if it flooded at our house we might as well go ahead and build an ark.) Chloe said if it did she'd just get on her bed on the top of the bunk bed.

When we got home I started cooking dinner. Owen went to his room and then ran out. I glanced at him and then looked again. He was wearing his swim trunks. Just incase it flooded.

Why do they have to be so cute?

Owen was talking about his birthday. He does this almost daily and wants to know how many days until his birthday (it's not until June 26th). Then he usually names all the things he wants. He names some things he really wants, then he starts just naming things to name them. However, yesterday he said he wanted his own dog. He said he wanted a boy dog. He wanted him to live in the house so Molly could have a brother. That was cute enough. Then the kicker was when I asked him what he'd name a boy dog of his own. Chip. He said Chip. I can't stand the cuteness. I told Danny about the conversation. He couldn't stand it either. He asked why he had to say that. Chip.

Mom, There's a bear in the fridge

For a few days now there has been a bear in the refrigerator. Danny and I commented on it and laughed about it. We assume Owen put it there for whatever reason. We left it there. This morning Phoebe said "Mom, there's a bear in the fridge". Still, we didn't take it out. (It doesn't surprise me that no one has taken it out and put it where it belongs. I've often wanted to conduct an experiment and leave something on the floor or counter, or wherever, and see if anyone ever picked it up. My bets are no. I seem to be the only one who picks up anything. I've tried to leave something for a few days but it drives me crazy and I eventually put it away.) I find odd things in odd places all the time. The bear isn't the only weird thing in my fridge. There is also a container of wax worms (for fish bait). Not so odd for around here though. Do you have anything weird in your fridge?

Phoebe update, and the kids

I took Phoebe to the dr. this morning. She has an ear infection, sinus infection, and pink eye! The pink eye started in her right eye and now is starting in her left eye too. She heard us say pink eye and now she says she is wearing pink eye shadow.

As for the kids (as Phoebe calls them), Chloe had her first play practice tonight. She auditioned for a role in a local production of Hansel and Gretel. She got chosen to be Maida, a peasant girl. It's going to involve lots of practicing, and two of the rehearsal nights we already have conflicts with things we already have scheduled (this Friday and next).

Owen has now decided he loves Jade, the little girl (actually older girl for him, she is Chloe's friend in fifth grade) he danced with at the Spring Formal. He keeps writing her notes. The note he wrote to her this evening said he loved her and wanted to kiss her. I was joking with Danny and told him that Owen was a lady's man like his Daddy. Danny rolled his eyes and said he guessed I was a lady. ;)

This lady's sinus headache is killing her so I'm off to bed to dream of no sickness at our house!

Phoebe cuteness

Phoebe does and says so many cute things that I forget to write about them all here. She calls Chloe and Owen "the kids". When they are at school she asks where the kids are. When I tell her to call everyone for dinner or whatever, she'll yell "Kids!! It's time to eat!". This morning she was eating her breakfast and was looking around the kitchen. She said, "You have a nice house, Mom. You have kids in it".

Last week she was playing in her Rose Petal Cottage and she put on her little apron and was cooking. Then she came to me wearing it and was carrying a little Magna Doodle. She asked me what I wanted to eat. I named off some things and she "wrote" them and ran off to fix them. She was my waitress taking my order. She did this over and over.




This morning I asked her how her eye was feeling (it was closed this morning when she woke up and all gunky, plus her nose is runny). She said "Better, but actually my nose is not".

Spring Formal

Chloe's Spring Formal was last night. It's a fundraiser the 6th grade does for their 6th grade trip. It's for 5th and 6th graders (Chloe is in fifth grade). Chloe was very excited about it. While she was at the dance I let Phoebe and Owen play on the school playground, and then we went in a little before it was over to see everyone dance. Owen and Phoebe were filthy from playing, but they danced some and it was so cute. Phoebe does this adorable little dance where she puts her arms up and waves her little hands (she calls it the hula girl dance). Owen danced some with Chloe, and with a sweet girl in her grade. Owen said at least he had a date and he wished he had worn a corsage and a black suit with black shoes.

Everything but the swine flu

Owen was sick this week. He had double ear infections, a sinus infection, and Fifth Disease. I think half the school had fifth disease, but thankfully he didn't get the rash part too bad, just the red cheeks. The dr. said it lowers their immune system, and that would explain the other infections.




He's back to normal now but the rest of us aren't feeling great. Danny and I are getting colds, and maybe Chloe too because she says her throat is sore. Poor Phoebe is pitiful and I'll probably make a trip to Urgent Care with her tomorrow, or else go to the dr. on Monday. It started yesterday with her saying her ear hurt. I thought she meant the inside of her ear but when I looked, the outside of her ear was red and I noticed there were about three spots on it with little clusters of tiny blisters. Her right eye was also runny. Then last night she said her mouth was hurting and it suddenly had bumps on it and her chin and was swollen some. Today her eye is just horrible. She woke up with it shut until I washed the green junk out of it. Her nose has green snot, she's just a mess. (Anyone have a guess what is wrong with her?) She slept four and half hours this afternoon until we finally woke her up. Chloe and I also took a little nap. Hopefully next week will be healthier!