Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Weekend Pictures

The weather has been so warm and sunny. We've been enjoying it all we can. Here are some pictures from the weekend.












Saturday, April 25, 2009

Circus field trip

Yesterday was Owen's Kindergarten field trip. I rode the bus with them and went along. Owen loved it all and says his favorite part was the clowns. I liked the elephants and this motorcycle show. There were 7 motorcycles riding around this ball. Amazing.




Here's Owen on the bus on the way. On the left is Nathan, his best friend. On the right is Drew, who threw up beside me on the way home. But we won't talk about that.



The best buddies at the circus:



Owen waiting for the show to start. We were to pack our lunch to eat at intermission, or have the school cafeteria pack a lunch. The poor kids held those lunches on their laps and wanted to eat so badly.



Most of the kids from our group watched most of the circus looking like this. They watched so closely.



I didn't get very good pictures but here's a few more.



Thursday, April 23, 2009

A volcano in town

We live near a couple power plants where we get our electricity from. They have big stacks that look similar to this. They release steam but it looks just like clouds. When I was little my Mom said I called them cloud makers.



Today as we were driving by the plant Phoebe was looking out the window and was looking at the shorter, rounder stack and said "Look at that volcano putting out all those clouds".

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Who's that girl?

I was looking through our wedding pictures this evening and scanning some photos to maybe make a photobook from Snapfish for Danny for our 14th anniversary in a few weeks. Phoebe saw a picture of me feeding Danny cake and she said "What is that girl doing to Daddy?". (You can tell this was 14 years ago by Danny's big glasses. LOL The pictures are full of big hair and big glasses and groovy clothes.) I guess that girl doesn't look much like her Mommy. ;)






Sunday, April 19, 2009

Donuts and Family Night

We've had such a pleasant weekend. Yesterday was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. We had a picnic and we played outside all day and evening. We cooked dinner on the grill and ate on the back porch.









We had a family night planned of a movie and donuts. We watched Bedtime Stories, which we all loved.



When I was little Mom always made us these donuts. They are too delightful. Use canned biscuits (the kind that comes in a four pack) and cut out holes (I use the lid to a two liter bottle of coke to cut the holes out). Then just fry them in oil until they are golden brown (doesn't take long, keep a close eye on them), flip once until the other side is golden, and then immediately cover them in powdered sugar. I can't tell you how good they are. You can also dip them in brown sugar or fill them with pudding, etc. Our favorite way is the powdered sugar. I don't make them very often, but the kids love it when we do. (Sorry about the terrible pic, I guess too much flash or something.) They always make me think of Mom making them for us.




It's always good to take the time for a family night. The plate the donuts are on is my Family Night plate. It says: This is the night we've waited for; Always a TREAT we have in store! We love each other more and more with every FAMILY NIGHT!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tropical Evening

I bought the kids some juice boxes for breakfast called Tropical Morning. Owen really liked them. He wanted one in the evening. He said "Can I have a Tropical Evening?". Such a clever little sneak.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Spring Break 2009

This week is Chloe and Owen's Spring Break. They were off Good Friday and the beginning of the week, then go back to school tomorrow (Thursday). They were originally supposed to get the whole week off, but we had to make up some snow days.

Since it's Spring Break, are we here?



No. Oh no. We're here:




It has rained every day. I had asked the kids earlier in the week what they'd like to do while they were off. They said they just wanted to stay home and play. I figured we could go to the park and have picnics, take walks, and play outside. It's been too rainy to even go outside. They have seemed content to just hang out at home though. Owen has wanted to make countless Science experiments. We did a few out of a book we have. That isn't enough for him. He's tried to concoct his own experiments that usually involve water, soap, and Easter candy. He has also managed to break his Nintendo DS. Chloe has been playing some, but mostly reading. I finally relented and bought her Twilight. She's almost read the whole book in two days. As for Phoebe, she's happy to have her favorite playmates home, except for when Owen sprayed her with silly string yesterday. In the living room.

Here the vacationers are at 9:00 this morning. I couldn't see Chloe's head, so this is the best I could do.



Owen is sleeping in too, and not in his bed I might add.




While I took the pictures of the sleeping beauties, Phoebe was watching cartoons in the clothes she wore yesterday (and slept in since she fell asleep in them last night because she didn't take a nap yesterday) eating a bowl of popcorn from last night.

Tomorrow and the weekend is supposed to be sunny and warm. Figures. Hopefully this weekend we can have some fun and make up for all this Spring Break excitement.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Darn rats

We had been having trouble with gnats in our kitchen. Very pesky. I googled a way to get rid of them. Many sites said to put apple cider vinegar in a jar and poke small holes in the lid. We made a couple gnat traps out of old baby food jars. Sure enough, it got rid of the gnats. The kids found it fascinating. When we first sat out the jars, Phoebe asked me what they were. I explained to her about the gnats. She thought about it, made a face, and said "Darn rats!".

Ten things I learned

Things I learned while waiting in dentist and doctor's offices last week:

1. I apparently don't read magazines I subscribe to. I read several Parenting and Parents magazines that were all news to me. I have them at home but I guess I hadn't read them very well.

2. There can be a child named Octavia that dresses like a boy and doesn't speak very clearly. She runs wild while her mother chases her and the Dad giggles.

3. My blood pressure goes through the roof while I wait. White coat syndrome a nurse called it.

4. Doctors do not care if you wait for two hours to see them.

5. Some people wear their slippers to the doctor.

6. I learned from a little boy that the Easter Bunny does not lay eggs.

7. Most people do not turn off their cell phones even though signs are posted everywhere to turn them off because they interfere with the computers.

8. Some people bring their friends to the doctor with them.

9. That Phoebe can sleep through the teeth cleanings of her siblings admist the craziness of a waiting room of children.

10. That I hate waiting in doctor and dentist offices.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Happy Easter!

We had a busy, but nice Easter. The kids enjoyed their Easter basket goodies and egg hunts. I did a lot of cooking and we did a lot of running to dinners and to church. The kids sang and had parts to say at church. Phoebe loved being on stage and singing. She said her part "Jesus is Alive!" very well. Owen did some entertaining on stage, we held our breath to what he'd do next. Chloe was a lady as usual. My favorite Easter song we sing at church is
Up From the Grave He Arose.


Now we have three days of Spring Break. The weather isn't going to be great, but the kids seem happy to just be at home and relax. Sounds good to me!

Checking out the Easter basket loot:



My family at church; my mom, dad, sister, me, Danny, Chloe, Owen, and Phoebe:






Friday, April 10, 2009

Future Mountaineer

I love these pictures of Owen playing football the other day.





Catching up in pictures

It's been a busy week with lots going on. I'm too tired to remember everything, so I'll just share some pictures.


The Kindergarten egg hunt at school:





Picture day at school:



With the Easter Bunny this morning. Owen had a piece of candy in his mouth that the Bunny had just given him. Phoebe was afraid and didn't want to get too close. I noticed about four hours later her shirt and pants were on backward (she dressed herself this morning). Owen asked the Bunny if he could hop, so the Easter Bunny got up and hopped. Later he said that was just a man in a suit.




Eating snowcones at the fleamarket today: