A Way to Beat the Wednesday Blahs

Ever felt this crabby on a beautiful summer day?

If so, then you should plan a trip like the one we took today. We went to the Living Treasures Animal Park with other families from our church. We had 30 people in all, and we had a great time! Living Treasures is a great "starter zoo" for little kids to enjoy. Watch out for the goats at the petting zoo though... they tend to make 2 year olds scream in terror for some odd reason.

Kim and Deacon joined us for the fun


Trying to see the leopards!

Eric bravely feeds the deer.

Caleb knows where to find some refreshment

Anna Gabriellus... a new species of tiger recently discovered

True to real life, 2 brother tigers always wrestling!

Priceless

Registration fees: $35
Jersey and socks: $25
Cleats: $18
Shin guards: $10
Black shorts $12
One little boy very excited to play his very first season of pee wee soccer: Priceless

Eric starts soccer after Labor Day, but I was told to go get the cleats and shin guards early since they are sold out by August. So off to the mall we went today. We registered him for soccer a few weeks ago and he was NONE TOO HAPPY about it. He did not want to play soccer at all. But that's typical Eric. He doesn't do change or new very well. He also did not want to go to preschool (which he loved last year) nor did he want to go to kindergarten (which he is now enthused about starting in August).

But as I suspected, with time, and more talking about it, and especially with a trip to the mall to pick out his very first cleats, he has warmed to the idea. Now instead of the usual "How many days until my birthday?", we are hearing "How many days until soccer"? I'm sure he's not that enthused about the soccer playing itself, yet. After trying on his full uniform today, he just wants to wear his cleats around and the cool socks that are nearly 2 feet long! (Photo of the little guy in uniform to come soon)

Side note: When running Eric's bath water tonight, I turned around to find him stripped down to his underwear AND socks and tennis shoes. He looks at me and says, "Mom, I look really good in my shoes and unders". He did a few little poses and cracked me up. I lifted him up to stand on the vanity so he could see for himself just how good he looked. My little man, already worried about looking good. I am going to have to beat the ladies off with a stick when he is older. I'm his mom, I can say that.

My little spitfire

Look at this picture. Cute little girl just sitting quietly, enjoying nature, basking in the sun. Picture perfect, right? In reality, this little girl was sitting in time out on that rock for some manner of disobedience while we were camping a few weeks ago.

Today we were outside and our 7 year old neighbor was playing with Anna. Maggie loves to lead the pretending since she is the youngest in her own family, but she is older than my kids. Anna complies with everything Maggie tells her to do. I asked Anna, "You sure like to do whatever Maggie says! Why don't you listen to Mommy that way?" Anna looked at me squarely and said, "Mommy, do you know why I don't listen to you?" "Why?", I asked, expecting some grand revelation that would change my parenting style with her or something. "Because I don't WANT to, that's why".

What did I say to that? Nothing. Outsmarted by a 3 year old. Man, that girl can be a spitfire. Any ideas on how to handle a 3-year-old-going-on-30???

Move Over Da'Tara.. here comes Caleb!

The other day our family watched the Belmont Stakes, interested to see if favorite Big Brown would win the Triple Crown. Caleb was oblivious to the upset that occurred when Da'Tara beat Big Brown, but he was fascinated with the way the jockeys rode the horses with their behinds in the air. Check out his impersonation here!

Memorial Day Camping Trip!

We went on our first camping trip with the kids last weekend, and it was fun but definitely a lot of work. We packed for several days in advance, managing to fit an enormous checklist of stuff in our van. Brian, Becca and Jack met us at Ohiopyle State Park and we got right down to business setting up our camp. Everyone enjoyed wading near Cucumber Falls, making smores, sleeping all bundled up in our tents (yes, one night it was 38 degrees!), playing at the campground's playground, and visiting the Living Treasures animal park. Here are a few pics, and you can also view the whole web album here. Brian got some really great pictures of the kids having fun at Cucumber Falls, so be sure to see his album here.

Setting Up Camp

Sunday Morning was freezing...hot chocolate was good!

Getting ready for marshmallows!

Home Sweet Tent

Dinner was Hamburgers (who knows what is coming out of Anna's mouth!)

Some memorable quotes from the weekend:

Anna, after riding to Ohiopyle for 90 minutes in the van -
"My bottom is getting a blister"

Caleb, after being awakened in the tent by a LOUD crow outside -
"Chicken?"

Eric, sporting his long johns and tennis shoes after having a shower at the bath house -
"Other people who don't know might think this is a cool running suit"

Brian, correcting Jackson while we were trying to bake our canned biscuits on skewers over the campfire -
"Jack, this is not biscuit fighting!"

Joanie, trying out cooking method #2 (in skillet) with said canned biscuits -
"My biscuits are burning!"

Chad, teasing Joanie -
"I know... first time using the Coleman Stove and all"

Chad, to a 9 or 10 year old boy at the playground who actually, I kid you not, peed on another child right in front of Chad -
"Put it back in your pants and get back to your campsite, NOW. If you were my kid, I'd smack you upside the head!"

So, our camping trip had a little fun for everyone!

We have a preschool graduate!

Eric proudly displays his graduation certificate

Mommy and the kids celebrate with Eric at the reception

Teacher Mrs. Alexander celebrates with Eric too.

Eric announced on the way home that he was now on summer vacation! Already in the mindset of a school-age kid! We look forward to having a kindergartener in our house in the fall, but we will enjoy a long summer together, making memories and trying to keep him just a tiny boy for a few months longer. Our baby is growing up! He is very close to reading now so we will continue working on that over the summer too. So fun to see the world through a boy's eyes who is eager to take it all in! God is good!

I am MOST Thankful for...

My husband Chad, who is SUCH a loving and caring father to our children, and who is concerned foremost with being a person who loves and lives for God, and who is a wonderful husband to me, always trying in big ways and small to remind me that he loves me. Thanks for being you, Chad! Thanks for the incredible Mother's Day surprise of moving our washer and dryer to the upstairs (no more hauling hampers and baskets up and down, up and down, up and down two flights of steps)! You are truly the best husband I could ever ask for. I love you!