The Game Farm

Over the weekend we went to the West Virginia Wildlife Center. We always called it the Game Farm or French Creek Game Farm. I loved going there as a kid, and Danny says he did too. We've had Chloe there two or three times, and Owen once when he was a baby. It's about a three hour drive to get there, so we don't go very often. Some pics of the day:

He fainted

I love listening to the kids when they are talking to each other (when they are talking nicely, that is). I just like to over hear the little things they say. Sometimes they are so sweet with each other, and sometimes very funny. Today on the way to the grocery store they were talking about alligators. I told them about a story I just saw on TV about a woman getting her face bitten by an alligator. Owen asked if there were any alligators around here. I said no, and Chloe said they had some in Florida. I said sometimes they get in pools there. Owen then said we better not talk about them anymore. Phoebe continued talking about alligators and Owen put his head over and closed his eyes. Then this conversation happened:

Phoebe: "Owen is asleep."

Owen: "I'm not asleep. I fainted."

Chloe and I laughed so hard. Apparently now the mere mention of alligators causes Owen to faint. Or fall asleep.

Silly stuff and nothing much

Owen asks a lot of thoughtful questions. Like yesterday he was looking at his shadow and asked why shadows didn't have mouths. The other day he asked me how tigers went to the bathroom.

Phoebe is so funny these days. She was sitting happily in her carseat when I stopped at the store and got her out of the seat. She jumped down and said "I'm free!!". We had pancakes and bacon Sun. evening for breakfast. She, like me, loves butter. She asked for more and I said a little more and that was all. Then she said "Can I have some of that butter to put in my mouth and eat it?". She loves to boss Owen around. He burped yesterday and before I could say a word she said "Owen, say excuse me! Burping is bad manners."

Chloe has a renewed interest in Barbies. Yesterday I got out a huge tote of Barbies of hers that we had packed away. She and Phoebe washed every single one of them in a big thing of soap and water I gave them, I washed and dryed the Barbie clothes, and now they are entertained for hours. One had pink panties on and Phoebe said that one had a pink butt.

We went to the library this morning and then to the pool. Owen said he had work to do when he got home. I asked what, and he said play his video games. He wanted to go to Kmart to buy a new game. I told him he just got new ones for his birthday and he'd have to wait until Christmas. He said Christmas was hours away and he couldn't wait that long. Then he said he really hoped snow came down on the ground for Christmas.

Today Owen was eating a chocolate bar (as he calls it) and Chloe stole a bite, which caused some crying with one sad tear. He said now he didn't have as much as he did.

He was wearing his goggles in the van on the way to the pool today. I could hear him snorting and breathing hard. I asked if he was okay and he said "Yes, I just need to get a breath". The goggles were pinching his nose closed.

Owen was looking for Molly yesterday and asked, "Is Molly home?". Where else would the dog be?

We did summer reading at the library today. With each level they complete they choose a prize. Today was craft day too and we checked out new books. Owen came home with a medal he made for the craft around his neck, a Scooby Doo bubble necklace on, carrying a sucker, and a pirate eye patch on. Phoebe had her medal, a stuffed pony, wearing a tatoo and sporting the eye patch, and a roll of Smarties. Chloe had her medal and a dolphin bubble necklace, and a piece of candy.

I just love those kids.

Odds and Ends

My friend's four year old, Sophie, said she wanted to go to the Dollar Tree. Her Mom asked her what she needed to buy there and she said "Oh, just odds and ends". That is what this post is. Odds and ends.

We went swimming today with Sophie and her mom and sister, and our other friend and her kids. We went to the "country" pool instead of the "town" pool but Chloe had a blast. It's something we do every summer with this bunch of friends.

Chloe finished up her play yesterday and I'm so glad it's over. It went very well and Chloe really enjoyed it, but I am glad not to be running to practices and performances.




A new friend Chloe made while doing the play. Her name is Kimmie and in the past two days she's called about 62 times:



With her friend from school, Rachel, who came to see the play and brought Chloe flowers. So sweet:





Owen had a fun at the pool today too. He played sea creature and had war with the girls with squirt toys. He continues to ask me for something every five minutes. I told him today that he needed his own personal assistant. He said "Yeah, you". I'm sitting here eating sunflower seeds and he and Chloe just started eating some. He cracked one of the shells and said "Hey! There are peanuts in here!". I told him no, they were sunflower seeds. Then he asked, "Will they grow inside of you?".

Phoebe slipped in the pool today and went under the water for a second. She didn't get upset but sputtered around a little. Later I took her to the bathroom and she said "That was a bad time when I went under the water". The pool is at a campground and when we came out of the bathroom she pointed to where a picnic table was that campers had a lot of stuff set out on. She said, "Look, there's a yard sale. Wish I could go to it".

Phoebe's schedule has been off since school has been out. She's been sleeping in so she's not ready for a nap right after lunch like she usually is. Before she'd eat lunch and then nap for two or three hours. Now that she sleeps later she isn't ready for a nap until much later. Then she naps until dinner time or later, and she's up very late. I am not a fan of that. They only peace and quiet I get is after everyone goes to bed. So now we are trying skipping the nap and then she goes to bed early and very, very easily.

Here she is tonight where she fell asleep on the couch. (That's my Halloween blanket I never put away. Molly curled up with her too.)



I've been enjoying sleeping in and the kids being home and nothing really we have to do. Except I have been taking two online classes and that has to be done every day, but we don't have to go anywhere or do anything. I like it.

Swimming in the rain

The kids (mainly Chloe) have been wanting to go to the town pool. Because according to Chloe, everyone goes to the pool. Which, to her credit, many of her friends do go very often. We used to always go to a little country pool that not many people went to. A couple of my friends and their kids met us there and all was well. Now I apparently am going to have to parade my chubby self in a bathing suit in front of everyone we know. Now that Chloe is older, our summer swimming is changing. She wants to be dropped off at the pool. That strikes fear in my heart. Our country pool has five foot water. The town pool has ten foot water at the deep end, and gasp, two diving boards. Also there are rules that Chloe has laid down for me to follow. Like, no embarassing her and no putting sunscreen on her at the pool (has to be done in the privacy of our home).

Yesterday was a sunny day but we were busy and the kids were bad at the store yesterday morning so I said if they couldn't be good we weren't going to the pool. So we didn't go. I said we'd go today. Well, today was cloudy and gloomy. We went anyway. It drizzled rain. Then it rained hard. Then it thundered. So our day at the pool lasted about an hour. But they were satisfied with that. We are busy the rest of the week, but hopefully next week we'll hit the pool a day or two. Hopefully in the sunshine.

Phoebe wearing Chloe's goggles:



Owen in his new diving gear. Never mind he hardly gets off the steps. He wore it in the bathtub last night. Then this morning as soon as he got up and went to the bathroom, he put it back on, then went back to bed.




Oh, these two.




No pictures of Chloe, because that would be embarassing if I took her picture at the public pool. There are rules, you know.

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.

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.

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:

Blogiversary

It's been one year ago today that I started this blog. I looked back over some of my first posts, and the kids have grown so much! A year just flies by with them. They are good kids. I'm glad I have this blog to look back and remember things they have said and done. Now for some of the things they have said and done lately.

I have been eating angel food cake, strawberries, and fat free cool whip. Phoebe likes to eat it too. Today she asked for angel food bread. The other evening we were having spaghetti. She asked for cheese on top of hers. Danny started handing her the shredded cheddar cheese. She said "No, I want the shaky cheese". She meant she wanted the Parmesan cheese you shake out onto your spaghetti.

Today Owen was helping me make stir fry for dinner. He likes to help cook. We were finished making it and it was almost done. He was still sitting on the counter. He said, "Can I run along now?". I sometimes say to him to "run along" after we're finished cooking, or if he's in the way while I'm doing something.

Miss Chloe has been a having some trouble with her asthma this weekend. Nothing too bad yet, and I hope it gets better instead of worse. She still has a flair for drama. We planned to go to the mall today but it was snowy and I get nervous to drive in the snow. We started to go to the mall but got about ten miles from home and it started snowing harder and I decided we'd better turn around and go home. She was upset and said that we just "gave up" and you should never give up. We had a nice day after we came home though.

Danny and Dad went trout fishing in the mountains today (in six inches of snow) and caught 13 trout between them. When they came home this evening Owen said to Danny, "You missed dinner".

Thanks for reading my blog this past year!

Who needs a sled?

We had a snow day today and school was closed. Not a whole lot of snow, but it snowed early this morning and made the roads slick. We had fun playing outside.

Here are a few videos. One of Owen flying through the air, and a couple of Phoebe sliding down the hill. (Sorry the videos are sideways, I forgot I shouldn't turn the camera while taking a video.)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I'm still recovering from the madness. I worked all day putting away the mountains of toys and gifts. The kids have had a blast. Phoebe was very sweet this year since she could really grasp what the excitement was all about now. She loved her stroller from Santa. Chloe's favorite gift has been her Nintendo DS. Owen liked his too, but not as much as Chloe. He had me putting Legos together all day yesterday. Mom and Dad got them a Wii and that's been fun. I like having everyone home from school and work. Our schedule has been out the window, but that's okay. Here are a bunch of pictures of the Wild Things opening presents.



















And because I never get tired of hearing the Christmas Story, and because Christmas isn't about all the presents, here is the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2:1-20.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and lineage of David. He went to be enrolled with Mary, his espoused wife, who was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.

But the angel said to them, "Do not fear; for behold, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.