Spring Break

Well the Spring Break is officially here!! Funny thing is we started Spring Break a day early because of another Snow Day, got to love Ohio weather huh? Oh well, so we met up with the Tucker family for a little movie and lunch date. It was pretty cool actually because Miami East kids and their families were the whole theatre to see Diary of A Wimpy Kid, which Gretchen loved the books! It was pretty much like collect the proper kid at the exit since everyone was sitting with everyone else. Then on Saturday we grilled out for dinner and all watched the Kids Choice Awards together. And then on Palm Sunday we took part in an Seder Passover meal at church, very long, but interesting. Monday came around and we got to have lunch with their Nana and went Easter Dress shopping. This has been a challenge this year since the girls each needed a dress, but in pink or orange so they could wear it for their Uncle's wedding. Gretchen not a dress girl and typically picks blues, Delaney just was being difficult I believe, but we do have 2 dresses and tomorrow (Tues) we are going shoe shopping after we go to Fletcher Church (where I teach) for Easter Crafts and lunch. Wed. not really sure of our plans yet, but Thursday and Friday Daddy is off of work so we are going to head to another movie, How To Train Your Dragon in 3D - wahooo!! And Boonshoft for some play time. Saturday will be an Easter Egg Hunt at church and then on Sunday Gretchen will perform her first solo at church in the Easter Musical. And then it is back to reality on Monday, but after we go back Delaney and me only have 7 week of school and Gretchen only has 10 of course, it should have been 9, but with all the snow days this year they have had to add on to the end of the year. And speaking of weather it is supposed to be sunny and in the 70's by the end of the week, amazing what one week will do ya. Happy Easter everyone!

Think Spring

Well the snowy month of February is finally gone. Beautiful it was and gave us a lot of "down" time, with field trips, school, tumbling, Girl Scouts all being canceled part of the month, but I am ready to move on to Spring! I know they say another big snowfall is expected in March according to the Farmer's Almanac, but for now I am happy with sunshine and temps in the 50's!
In the month of February we were still able to go as a family to an Girl Scout bowling party, fun was had by all. My girls love to bowl, we just never take them often enough I guess. The Viking Fest was a big event in our house, yet again. Gretchen always decorates a cake to enter in the cake decorating contest, she has one in the past, but not this year, but a friend/neighbor did. And can I just say they are 2 amazing girls! Gretchen went to congratulate Abby on her win and Abby told Gretchen she thought Gretchen did a good looking cake too and gave Gretchen some of her prize loot (candy). Thought that was sweet on both girls parts, the other mom and me talked and agreed it was because they both have such awesome moms, lol. Delaney was disappointed to not be able to decorate a cake for the contest (you have to be in Kindergarten) so she helped me decorate one for the Cake Walk. And Jason once again won the chili and cheesecake categories. I even had other mom's asking if he would share his recipe, lol. Just go to the Internet and you can find it. Big joke since he doesn't cook at home for us very often! Maybe I will enter in the cake decorating next year since I have been amazed at what we have been learning and that I can do it at cake decorating. Probably won't though since I am to busy helping the rest of my family get the prize winning goods ready! Girl Scout cookies have been in full throttle and I am pleased to announce Gretchen achieved her goal!! Good job Gretchen!! Of course, she came to the realization this year that next year she will have to share her cookie sales with her sister, who wants to be in a troop next year when she can. And of course, she is already wanting me to be the leader, I am really hoping another mom will be leader and I can just be an helper, but we will see I guess. And yes, I would probably be crazy enough to do both, since I have been the leader in Gretchen's for the past couple of years. Tumbling is still going well for both girls, with Gretchen still working on perfecting her moves, while Delaney has got her back walkover and working on perfecting that. And Spring means softball practices will be starting very shortly. Still can't believe though in just a couple weeks Spring Break will be here and before I know it the first year of my preschool class will be done.
As March is here we are looking forward to Lucky the Leprechaun coming to visit on St. Patty's day, softball starting, Spring Break, working on Vacation plans and the weather getting better and better, so I can warm up and get the garage cleaned up! Think Spring!!

Wow is all I can say!!

Well the month of January is here and gone and Feb. is almost half way over, where does the time go? January brought us back to reality from break and getting back into the swing of things, with preschool, school, tumbling, Girl Scouts and my b-day!!
Well preschool and school really nothing to report in January and the same with tumbling, but Girl Scouts we were busy, with selling our famous cookies, the annual Mall Lock In, and taking the girls to paint their own pottery! The Mall Lock In is always MLK weekend and I was there with thank goodness one other mom from out troop and 9 of my troop, that is more than double from last year and still only about 1/2 the troop!! We have crafts, games, singing and pizza before you try to get some sleep on the mall floor about 1 - 2 am, then lights are back on for clean up and breakfast at 6am - can you say tired??? The Waterstone Pottery was great to accommodate all 17 in the troop, 2 honorary Girl Scouts (Delaney and Emma - us leaders younger girls) and 2 brothers of the troop. They each got to pick one item to paint and glitter. Gretchen has a very "cool" penguin that says Gretchen's Room on his sign and looks like he has snow all over him with the glitter - very pretty and Delaney picked an rainbow and she also did a very colorful job!!
And I have to say Jason always is like what is up girls when it comes to their b-day because they are so excited because they get like 4 days of it they say - school, friends party, family party and their actual b-day celebration, but I guess after thinking about it this year they get it natural, lol. Jason took me out for an date for my b-day, my cousin took me to breakfast one morning, the kids and Jason took me to dinner, my mom had an meal for me and my soon to be sis-in-law Tiff (our b-day's are only 2 days apart) and of course my friends at preschool had to help me celebrate! Loved all my little preschool friends singing Happy B-day to me - too cute!! My girls helped Jason with gifts and did an amazing job!! New cookbook, gift certificate to the book store, music CD's I wanted. I laugh because he usually struggles with gift purchases and I told him to ask the girls for help and he did and this is what I got - keep it up girls!!
So then we moved into February and in Preschool we talked about Groundhogs Day and that Groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter and I said okay get us 1 more good snow and then bring on Spring!! Well boy, let me tell you - Gretchen got out early that same week because of snow and they were called off the whole next week and we will even have to reschedule the Valentine's Parties for preschool and Gretchen's class (I was the Mom in charge of her party too)!! So yes, we actually got 2 more really good snows with just about a day in between! So yes, I am will be okay now, bring on Spring, lol. I must say though it is so beautiful here at our home with all the snow, the girls got to play outside, built an snow family, made snow angels and just had FUN!! Then they would come back in and have hot cocoa and get their warm baths! Speaking of our house, I love our neighbors!! It is so nice on Saturday after the first snow, there was about 3 of us families out, using shovels, snow blowers, etc. making sure every one's drive was cleaned out while our kids played we chatted until we were all needing warm showers and hot cocoa!! The only bad thing about the snow is it made us postpone a trip to Newport Aquarium and an overnight at an hotel for some swimming, but we are planning on going later in the month, so watch for updates! In the midst of all this snow I was a cleaning/organizing fool!! Got lots of accomplished, plus played lots of games with the girls, watched some movies and did some reading - I have to admit I have been a okay with all of this! Then I will reorganize that garage when the weather breaks, because I will have enough things after cleaning out for yet another garage sale!! This past week I was also able to start my cake decorating class, always wanted to do it, so I am very excited and will continue to post about this too!
As far as the family we are looking forward to an Girl Scout Bowling party, Viking Fest (school carnival), and our trip to Newport. Girl Scout wise we will be getting our cookies to deliver hopefully next week. Tumbling Gretchen has got her round off back hand spring - by herself!! Wahooo!!! And Delaney is working on her back walkover - wow girls I am So Proud of You!! And school wise we hopefully will get back into the swing next week and get our Valentine Parties rescheduled. Preschool has a busy month still with special readers for our Read A Thon, Library visit, and school pictures. Gretchen's school will have an field trip (I was to help with) to reschedule in addition to their party and the Jump Rope For the Heart Fundraiser, which is when they play loud music in the gym and do different jumping activities, lots of fun to help with and see all the jumping kids! So in ending we are staying in to be safe and warm! And tonight we will be geared up for Survivor's new season - Heroes vs. Villains - I think this will be the best season EVER!!!

Happy New Year!

We ended last year and started this year with a low key affair dinner and games, what a great night! And the girls even stayed awake - amazing! So as we start this new year and I am caught up blogging, yeah!! Something good came out of the first snow day huh? At least I will feel like something is accomplished although it should have probably been dishes and laundry, next my friends, lol. So as I was saying I am looking forward to 2010 and the rest of my first year teaching of preschool and hoping they decide to bring me back for year number 2. I am also looking foward to snow days, Spring Break, Summer break - I am just embracing the reasons to be a teacher, lol. I will enjoy the girlfriend time, family time, date nights and me time to read some more or just enjoy my favorite shows. Looking forward to another great summer break with my girls. Jason I will answer for at this time, I would say some of his projects, primarily the window seats, which has been a project for 1 1/2 years so that I will quit complaining that they are not done and can get rid of some more boxes! I am sure he would love that. Gretchen is looking foward to vacation, more movies, softball, playdates, swimming, Boonshoft and 3rd grade. While Delaney is looking forward to bowling, Boonshoft, hanging at home, making cookies, playdates, swimming and heading on the bus to hopefully Mr. Roeth's class for Kindergarten. So I have to say we are not looking to anything huge just things that are meaningful to us as a person and family. So here is to a Great 2010!

Break Time

Like I mentioned Jason is usually off part of break and we usually try to squeeze in some family fun and this year was no exception. We did our annual drive around look at Christmas lights, nativities and we usually get in a movie. And this year we were all so excited because Alvin & The Chipmunks The Squeakuel was opening on Dec. 23 - WAHOOO!! As a special treat the 4 of us went the the Tucker 5, basically Alvin, Simon & Theodore, John & Missy, lol. We were laughing at so many portions of the movie that reminded me of our own real life Chipmunks! The joke is that I am down a Chipette - sorry only 2 Chipettes here! And I have to say the real treat was that Jason & John went, usually they let that be our thing, but it was nice to have all of us together. If you haven't guessed Missy, me and all the kids LOVE movies!! This break was great thanks to Redbox $1 movies, got caught up on some of them and we went to the theatre 3 times, New Moon - finally, Chipmunks and then Jason and me caught a snoozer after dinner one night, oh well, my birthday is coming up maybe we will see Blind Side or another good one coming out, decisions, decisions. And I even got a book reading in there, yeah!! I think God's gift was the day we woke up to this beautiful site of our trees covered in snow and the girls got to go play in the snow for the first time this year.

Christmas is Here

Christmas break started and Jason had decided to do something different this year and take the week before Christmas off not in between Christmas and New Year, which I have to say worked out like a charm! Especially since I needed to finish shopping, which I did on Saturday of break, wrapping, which I did on Monday when Jason took the girls out shopping, so the rest of the week was smooth sailing, whew! Christmas Eve we had the Tuckers over for our celebration, which includes a meal, this year we went easy - El Sombrero Fiesta Platter, gifts, games and fun! This year was no exception. And I always laugh because we always as adults get so excited for gifts too, because we know each other so well that the gifts are always an great surprise! Then our neighborhood lights up with luminaries and pass out treats, yummy again! Have I mentioned I love our neighborhood and house! It is so beautiful to see the whole neighborhood lighted (only 5 houses I think didn't participate this year). So we try out some of the yummy treats and the Tuckers and Frocks divide and have our own family fun of church services, games, new pjs and reading of the Night Before Christmas before the lights go out so Santa can make his drops. A little glitch in the plans came this year after the divide because I ended up sick for the rest of Christmas Eve and Christmas. Christmas morning the kids got up around 8, not bad to see what Santa had brought and then to open gifts from Daddy & Mommy, I just took my spot on the couch so I could observe and rest. I must say Jason was a trooper getting everything opened, while I went to lay down before we had to head to my parents. Needless to say I passed on the

Christmas meal, but again just quietly observed the present exchange. I am happy to report I woke up the day after Christmas feeling okay. Then on Sunday we went to celebrate Christmas with Jason's family, which I was totally excited about because the girls would be able to get their American Girl dolls they wanted from Grandma. So the pictures are when the girls got their American Girl dolls that they were so excited about! Again I think being a parent is just as exciting as being a kid because their expressions and excitement are contagious!

Programs - School & Church

Preschool typically has a program either at Thanksgiving or Christmas or sometimes both, but this year we decided to do the Thanksgiving one in conjunction with Grandparent's Day and to just focus on the Reason for the Season and not stress it for the Christmas program. So we picked our favorite songs, practiced and then the day arrived. The room was packed with Grandparents, parents and other special family members and they were nervous and so was I! This would be my first time presenting our program, but my little friends did wonderful! I was so proud of them! And then it was time to put on my mom hat and watch Miss Delaney, who also did an awesome job! Then at Christmas at preschool we just had a fun day with Pastor Russ coming in to read to us, special snacks (cupcakes for Jesus' b-day) and a visit from old St. Nick. Now Gretchen's school program this year is going to be in conjunction with President's Day so watch for that, but she did participate in our church's program. Well after many changes to script, who was in charge, who was participating, and many prayers the program went off beautifully, which still amazes me if you had been there for the last practice, whew! We joked that we should pray for stage fright to subdue some of the cast! Gretchen had several speaking parts and a short solo, very impressive I must say! Delaney could have taken part, but decided to pass on the opportunity. As always I feel some tears when I watch either one of my beautiful daughters perform. And since I was on teacher duty I really didn't get pictures at preschool, so here is a picture of Gretchen in the church program.

Thanksgiving

Jason was off the week of Thanksgiving like normal which is so nice because the kids get out of school, well actually Delaney and me didn't have class at all, but Gretchen had 2 days. And usually we will do something fun on Wed. and Jason works on some projects. But it was an eventful week with my Dad having an heart attack and subsequent surgery, but thank goodness all was well and he got out of the hospital on Wed. and was home for Thanksgiving. So after all that and lots to be thankful for we did try to keep up some of the tradition of Thanksgiving week by going to get our Christmas Tree. To give you some background we had got a real tree a couple of times and then purchased a fake tree after Christmas and said that every once in a while we would get a real tree and it had been quite a few years so last year the girls asked if we could get an real one and we did, but I had always wanted to cut one down so finally this year we did and the best part it was close to home and it was an fundraiser for a baseball team, totally win/win. So this picture is of the tree. And to end this post I want to say that I am so thankful for Jesus, Jason and my girls, family, friends and this year the opportunity to teach preschool.

Halloween Parties & Trick or Treat

Parties galore! First their was our local community center's party (where the girls take gymnastics), which included games, crafts, food, friends and fun! I was so impressed when they did an costume show that Delaney did not hesitate to go show off her costume, I know I should not be surprised still with how far she has come, but I am! They had to wrap each other as mummies, stuff an scarecrow, pick their pumpkins, color pictures, etc. The ETCC is one of the reasons I love where we live, so close in proximity and it is like a family atmosphere. Then we had Preschools party. The kids loved it they got to come in costume (I was a 50's girl - already had that outfit for the Girl Scout dance) and then they got to parade around the church and trick or treat. And the nice thing is that we encourage the parents who bring in the trick or treat items to do no candy since they will get plenty of that! Then it was on to Gretchen's class party, which I was the room mom in charge, so with the help of 2 other rocking moms (worked out great they were 2 of my Girl Scout moms so I know them well) we put on a great party well at least we think! To be honest we were a little bummed that the kids in 2nd grade do not get to get in costumes, only K and 1st, so we decided we are going to do our best to make them forget they are not in costume, even though I don't think this was Mrs. Sutherly's decision because she decorates very cool and is pretty easy going, think it is either the other teachers or the district. Let's let kids be kids in my book, but off the soapbox and back to the party! So we got green punch and put it in a witch's cauldron to serve, Sharon did these amazing looking spider web cupcakes (and delicious too) and Abby made up the most awesome filled to the rim goody bags ever! And they got to party, make a bookmark and finish watching their movie. And Delaney loved going in and being a big girl and sitting with her sister and doing an craft too. Now Trick or Treat is pretty cool in our neighborhood because it is a small area and you know pretty much everyone so they give out nice treats and it is just enough to walk and this year the weather was amazing which makes it even better. And to make it even more fun some of our friends brought their 2 kids over and we all walked around together and let the kids have fun together. So this is my witch and princess for Halloween.

Happy B-day Delaney!

So this year brought about another birthday for Delaney and she is 5! Can you believe that my baby girl is 5 already and excited about next year and Kindergarten! So we decided for her friend b-day to do it a little different this year and let her have just her friends over while Gretchen was at school. So one day after school I picked up an additional 3 little girls and off to McDonald's we went for lunch, her first request! Then after much giggling we came home for fun! We had cupcakes for dessert, Delaney opened her presents, we got Hannah Montana tattoos (the theme) and played with her friends. I don't think it was a bad day for a newly crowned 5 year old. This picture is the girls all together at the party, to cute! Delaney has been friends with Emma since birth (older sisters are friends), and with Delaney(I know what are the chances) and Sera since last year in preschool. They all take gymnastics together and watch out Kindergarten here they come!

Preschool Field Trip

So October also brought my first time as a teacher on the Preschool Field Trip to Fulton Farms for an Hayride. I think I have mentioned that I LOVE FALL, so I was so excited to go to this, as was my class, first field trip for my 3 year old friends. Funny story is that of course, Delaney is in the 4/5 year old class and she had asked me if I thought it would be okay for her to sit with me on the hayride and my class, I said I didn't see a problem with that because usually the parents are with their child during the field trip. So we get there and start to load the wagons and I ask Delaney if she is coming and she said yeah with my class, lol, so mom got ditched! I have to say funny because she has came a long way from the days of being stuck to me, which is the goal, but a little part of me was sad too I have to admit! But seeing everyone having such a good time, my class and Delaney and her friends made it all better. And another funny story is that on the way back, we were in the second wagon we started noticing hay fly back to us and I look up and it is Delaney and Miss Barb (our director or principal as the kids like to say) starting a hay fight with one of the dads! Crazy girl! So the picture is of my first preschool class on their first field trip.

Frock Farmers

We had always talked about it and I told you earlier that we decided to try it - be farmers, well if a small garden counts. But as you can tell by the picture it was nice and green and went GREAT this year! But I still must say wow when I go to the Horicultural Building at the Fair. We keep saying we are going to enter something there or in the Art Building, maybe next year, lol. Plans are already going for next year what we are going to add and move, etc. This year we did tomatoes, peppers, onions, green beans, lettuce, corn and pumpkins. So the first 5 items did wonderful and the corn grew nice and tall, but it did not have a nice flavor, but the positive is I had corn stalks to decorate in the fall with and the pumpkins we thought omg we are going to have tons, but as they grew they did not all produce well and we did have a couple of pumpkins, but they were small and able to decorate a while with, but not long because they rotted. So with that being said we are not doing pumpkins this year and the corn we are moving, but really only care to get the corn stalks again. We have talked about adding to the onions this year and adding zucchini and cucumbers. And if this year goes well again we have talked about adding to the garden space if needed for the next year. So needless to say we have lots of peppers, tomato juice, spaghetti sauce and salsa in the freezer, which is awesome! So next year I am going to add zucchini bread to that and pickles, yummy! Might even try some canning instead of freezing everything because it does take up lots of space in the freezer, thank goodness we have an extra refrigerator in the garage.

Girl Scouts

As most of you know I was able to become an co-leader for Gretchen's Girl Scout Brownie Troop last year and we started with 4 girls including our own 2 and quickly moved to 8 and then after Christmas break last year we moved to 12, well this year the school year started and so did Brownies with 17 girls!! And to be honest we had to tell them that we think it is great that you love Girl Scouts and are encouraging your friends, but we have no more room! We meet in the art room at school right after school so we can make it easy for parents and because of space and being able to get crafty. So with that being said we have had lots of fun still with the girls, we have done recycled paper, thanks to another troop for coming and showing our troop how to do it, the 50's themed dance (our troop was in charge of snacks and did popcorn and ice cream floats) but one of my favorite has been the hayride! As many of you know I love fall so this is right up my alley! Of course I think the Christmas party and doing the $5 gift exchange would be the girls favorite! These pictures are of the hayride and the Christmas party with my troop!

Lions, Tigers & Bears Oh My!

So this year I got to accompany the 2nd graders to the Columbus Zoo and the animals were not always caged, lol. I was so happy I was able to go with going back to work and all, but needless to say the field trip was on a day of no preschool - yeah. Granted they are great about asking off I would have just had to ask to get a sub, but considering we just started and I just started didn't want to. So all was good in the world and I was able to be at the school by something like 7 so we could get loaded on the buses, well the kids, parents had to drive themselves, to get to the zoo because it is about an 1 1/2 hour drive and we had to be back by 3 for kids to get on buses, plus you had to have lunch too. So needless to say it was a fast moving day at the zoo. Too funny that a field trip like this and carpooling suggested brings out the high schoolers in all of us again and we start who are you riding with, etc. So 5 of us parents rode together and I have to say that was a ball!! It was a hoot to just be able to chill together and chat, of course, the trip home was like OMG I had this kid that did this, etc. So this is just a picture of our group for the day and a picture of Mrs. Sutherly and her class. To bad the sickness bug for the year had started and several students were not able to make it to such a fun field trip. And actually I am already planning on going when Delaney is a 2nd grader. I am so happy that I have been able to be a stay at home mom or now that I have a "job" it is flexible to still let me have the best of both worlds!

Argh Matey!

This year Gretchen was super excited that Mrs. Sutherly was going to be her teacher for 2nd grade, which also meant lots of pirates. Mrs. Sutherly you see is a big pirate fan. So in addition to a cute welcome note before school started, a really cool decorated room the kids get to do pirate day and dress up like a pirate and this is a picture of our best effort to be a pirate, minus the eye patch! So fun was had by the whole class. And Gretchen is still loving school which I am so happy about. She even has been given the opportunity to do the Saturday Enrichment classes because of test scores, which is nice because she gets to interact with the other gifted students from Miami East and the surrounding districts. One of the last classes I thought it was funny because her and another girl recognized each other from softball season and started talking ball. These classes are usually very hands on, which taps into her artsy, crafty side too. And I always think it is neat to see what projects they have done.

Fire & Marshmallows

Just had to add this, because the girls well are so cute and they loved this. We have an fire pit right out by the pond and they love to take the old bread and feed the fish and they kept wanting to have a marshmallow/smores roast. So a few times this year that is what we did, of course they like the idea of roasting marshmallows better than eating them and the like the idea of chocolate better than the whole smore! The nice thing is the pond and fire pit gives us some great entertainment right at home, which makes some great family memories. Enjoy : )

Brickyard

The name says it all if you know Nascar or Indy and yes, we got to go to the race this year. Well see we had went one other time, 10 years ago and to be honest I was a little disappointed. The track is so large you don't see alot of action, especially in the back. But this time they were FREE tickets, Jason won them from a local radio contest so not going to pass up the opportunity to go for FREE. Then we found out that John & Missy were to go too and their tickets were close to us - yeah!! Sad part ended up being that Missy's grandpa was very sick and they could not go, RIP Cliff. So extra tickets were up for grabs and Jason's brother Jon and his girlfriend, Sharon decided to go. So we did the switch Grandma got Gretchen and Delaney for the day and we got Jon and Sharon, lol. And off to Indy we went. Now if you again know anything about the track in Indy you are in ghetto! So we parked in ghetto took everything out valuable and started walking towards the track, which it is daylight and there are lots of people so not as scary! The sights yes, fear for your life, I think that would happen when the sunlight sets. And the experience was AMAZING because these seats were on pit row, yes that is an actual pic of pit row, no zoom needed!! And we had to go to the infield to even get to our seats, so you got to have the experience of all the promotional trailers, walking past the RV of the drivers section, etc. Too cool!! So needless to say now I would go back to the Brickyard again, but only if we could have awesome seats like this year! The only thing better would have been if Dale Jr. would have won or at least been able to finish the race, which my smarta** daughter Gretchen so graciously called to say to me. Of course, you really can't hear at the track so I didn't hear my phone ring, but then once the race was over I realized I had an message and it was Gretchen saying "bet you are disappointed mom, just say Dale Jr. go to the garage." Ugh that girl, good thing I already had her surprise, lol.

Build A Bear

Another one of our annual activities include Build A Bear Workshop. And we typically do it on vacation, but since we went where they don't have a BABW we had to go closer to home and don't let me kid you the girls reminded us that this is something we get to do on vacation so we went to just the local Fairfield Mall one. So this is just them with their newest creation! It is always funny to go because the girls went from just an animal and you could get away with an $10 bear to picking not based on price, but what they like and now they need an outfit and shoes where before they didn't care. So needless to say it is usually a little sticker shock for Daddy when we come out of there, but I have to say he is getting better about realizing that the outfit and shoes make it for our girls and it actually helping them look for the perfect combination. I guess what I am saying is that he is the father of girls and he loves it!

Stautes on the Square

About every 2 years they do some Sculptures/Statues on the Square in Downtown Troy and we love to just take a nice walk and look at each of them and this year was no exception. Sometimes we also like to check out what exhibit Hayner Cultural Center has in store for us. It is so nice to have such wondeful cultural arts so close to home! This makes a nice Sunday afternoon activity or even an afternoon after lunch activity or something to do after an visit to the Summer Reading Program at the library. Next year we might try to check out The Overfield Museum and the Troy History Museum since they are getting older. This is the type of activities I love for summer because we get to do something and it is cheap! Plus this summer was so nice because the girls were the perfect age to be like lets go do something without prep.

Boonshoft and Cousins

Well as you have not guessed by now that my cousin Missy and me love to get together and sometimes we like the kids to get together too, lol. Well they were supposed to have a cool exhibit at Boonshoft and thought great we will take all the kids. So the one pic is in the exhibit about Dragons there was a place you could smell dragons breath, stinky!!! So we had done it and decided the kids should try it and got ready for their faces!! Priceless!!! We also love playing jokes on our adorable children! Well the other pictures I just love because one of them has all of them bent over looking at the turtles and the other one is the oldest along with the youngest. I think it is so cool to see how each has their own special relationship with each other and the really neat part is they are all very protective of each other. I just love when we do something fun like this all together, it is usually lunch, dinner, Boonshoft, swimming or movies (another passion we all have), but no matter what it always equals FUN!

VACATION

Well like I mentioned before the girls were a little disappointed that we were not doing the Myrtle Beach thing this year, but decided we needed something a little shorter aka cheaper, so off to Gatlinburg we went. We typically go there just don't spend any amount of time because it is a stop on the way back home from the beach. So this year we took in some go carts, putt-putt golf, wax museum and the Great Smokey Mountain Park and we were so excited because we actually got to see a few bears along the way. This was our best picture of 2 bears playing in the trees. A relaxing time was had by all and the girls loved the pool!! Nothing fancy just the fact it was a pool and it did rain some so good thing they had an outside and inside pool! The only problem we had was Delaney who kept wanting to jump into the pool even if we were not in yet. Told you she came a long way with those lessons. Where oh where shall we go in 2010? We have been trying to figure that out, so we will see!

Swim Lessons

So this is the first year both girls went to swim lessons. We have an wonderful local lady that does swim lessons for one week at a time at her house. Gretchen went there last year for a week and we were so impressed with how quickly she came along, we sent both girls for 2 weeks this year. Well I knew Gretchen would be okay, but Delaney another story. And boy was I right! Kathy did put the girls together and another family friend was in there so I thought it might help because parents stay on the outside of the fence to peek through. Of course, we all could hear Delaney didn't need to look! It was her crying that she didn't want to do it. I was the mom getting the look, like I am so glad THAT is not my kid!! Well needless to say after some bribery, I will not lie (Taylor Swift doll was given after no crying and completing her classes) she LOVED it! On the last day we were allowed to come in at the end and see the progress, which is amazing! Gretchen did wonderful again and is comfortable in the deep end, while Delaney got to the point in just that short amount of time to jump into the pool herself. Kathy you are an miracle worker!

Happy B-day Gretchen!

This year Gretchen decided she wanted to have some friends over and head to the Troy Aquatic Park (TAP - Troy Pool), have pizza for dinner and have the girls stay the night. So we agreed to 3 friends and the day came, it was not a pretty day so that meant the pool was closed, so plan B was go to the Vandalia Rec Center for inside swimming so we are heading in and I am thinking it is not real busy, oh no I thought. Yep I was right! There had been an "incident" in the pool and they were draining it and closed, ugh, what to do now? So we went to the didn't have Plan C - bowling, then still got pizza for dinner and then the sleepover. All and all it went well considering nothing worked the way it was supposed to, but the girls all had fun at our beach themed party and Gretchen was an Happy Birthday Girl and that is all that matters : ) The pictures are going in to swim (happy faces), after finding out not swimming and before we figured out what to do (sad faces) and her beach themed party.

Garage Sale & Lemonade Stand

Well it has been an annual event for my friend Jen and me to have an garage sale and since she has had the last couple at her house and her husband really doesn't like it all to well I agreed that we should move the sale to my house this year and try to get a few neighbors on board and have a neighborhood sale. Well my cousin Missy had also being doing some cleaning out so she took part too. So first day was rainy and nasty and we were the only sale to brave the elements and sell. We had us 3 trying to stay dry while all 9 kids entertained themselves inside, but the next day ended up being a better weather day a couple other neighbors opened up and the 4 children that decided to come back (really didn't have a choice) decided to do an lemonade stand, which is usually an annual event too. Well we each had our own goal in mind ours was enough for an basketball hoop for the girls they wanted and I have to say we each made our goal and even though it is a lot of work, it usually ends up being some good girlfriend time!

And it is an Hit, well to the face! OUCH!!

So had to post this pic as promised to some of you. Yes, you can actually see the stiching of the softball on her little, well big chin! So as you know Gretchen as played t-ball for 2 years and moved up to softball this past year, which I love this level and watching her play. And as most of you know I am the kind of mom that says brush it off, you are fine. Well with that being said, Gretchen is playing right field, one of the power hitters on the other team gets up and line drives it towards her, grounder, so Gretchen is in position to stop the ball and it takes a bounce and she did stop it, just not with her glove, it was with her face literally! So the coaches instantly star running to her and she starts to cry on the field and they all start looking for me, so I run on the field, again not my style and another mom runs for ice and they put her in the dugout with ice. Then I see it, the stitching, the swelling, the bruising already! Can you say OUCH?? But I have to say she got back on that field and played the rest of the game, I was so proud of that because I know it could have been real easy not to ever play again and be scared, but she wasn't. The positive is that now she knows, yes it hurts, but it gets better and she is ready to sign up again, so it must have not been all that bad. To be honest I think she wore it like a badge of honor, like bring it! LOL - she is so my kid, what can I say! Plus she liked that the coaches were all like OMG, we are going to get her something from the concession stand for taking one for the team. So I think the most painful part for her was that I kept taking pics of her chin,(why her tongue is out) so I would have them to show her in the future, you know in her scrapbook that I have not done! Well at least I am thinking ahead.

Taylor Swift Concert

Well this picture of the girls at the concert with their new tee-shirts. It started by us stating we was going overnight to Ft. Wayne, going to stay so we could go to the Zoo the next day. Fun they thought, but it got better. Gretchen figured it out when we got to Ft. Wayne and she heard advertisements about the Taylor Swift Concert in town and she said I bet you are surprising us and taking us there! When we confirmed it was like we were back at the Jonas Brothers/Hannah Montana Concert a couple years ago with screaming, screaming, screaming! So yes, they were excited and we were deaf, lol! Honestly those moments are priceless!! So the concert the girls LOVED, well except the seats for Gretchen, who like me does NOT like heights and let me say they were bargain seats! You don't realize how tall the Ft. Wayne Arena is until you are that high up! So needless to say after Gretchen and me finally got up, uP, UP to our seats we stayed put!! Delaney liked it until Keith "Gerban" as she called him, Urban, really kept playing, playing, playing, so with her little ear phones on she decided to nap! Side bar, not a big Keith Urban fan until that night, he puts on an hellluva show! So we headed back to our room and went to the zoo the next day, again lots of fun and then headed back home, well actually to an softball game, but you get it! I have to say I love being able to do special things like that for our girls!

Catching Up For Real

Okay I promise I have a list and pics on the computer ready to be posted so I am going to try to get caught up and stay up to date with the blog again for 2010. So stay posted. I already added first day of school pics of the girls on my last blog. Better late than never right! Plus maybe the summer pics and blogs will help my mind trick me into thinking warmth!