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Who is the moderator for this blog anyway! I think she should be fired...

Walk-A-Thon

The PTA had a walk-a-thon yesterday at brother's school for their fundraiser. Bugs and I went after school to hang out while brother was walking. (If I was smart, I would have brought my tennis shoes and walked with him...that would have required pre-planning). It was a beautiful day. They had cones in the grass for a make shift track for the younger kids, so I am not sure how long the laps were. Brother had a great time walking with various friends as they came and went. Bugs walked a few laps with him also. He stopped for some rest and snacks, but then he wanted to walk some more. Finally, after a few hours when they were closing up, I made him stop so that we could go home. The tally was 52 laps! Oh my goodness! If the track was 1/6th of a mile (like Grandma thinks) then my poor little boy walked over 8 miles! I am starting to think that I am a bad mom letting walk that much, but he wanted to and was having fun. The alternative would have been to go home and hang out with his sister and do homework, so maybe he is smarter than we think... Oh well, I guess it would be nice to be 6 again and have all of that energy.

I was going to pledge him $1 per lap...I might have to hit up the Grandma's and Papa's...

Swimming Lessons

We had private swimming lessons again this year at Grandma's pool. Brother did very well. He is getting so comfortable in the water and was working on the overhand stroke, breast stroke, and back stroke. He was also doing very well diving underwater to retrieve various treasures. It was difficult at first to get to the bottom because his little scrawny body just wanted to float! He finally figured out how to force himself down there.

Bugs had a break through this year. The first half of the year she protested (loudly...just ask the neighbors...) that she didn't want to go in the water and she screamed through most of her lesson (while clinging very tightly to me). Then, after seeing some other kids having fun swimming in Grandma's pool, she decided to try it. She LOVED it! After that lessons were a breeze. Actually, she started to get a little too confident and had no fear in the water, which made mommy a little nervous. What is worse, a child who is afraid of the water and will not go near it or a child who has no fear and will just jump in? Hmmm, that is one to ponder... Our instructor did great and actually taught her to respect the water (put a little fear back in her so that she can recognize her limitations).

Bugs waiting her turn

Brother doing the hand over hand stroke across the pool
Bugs swimming to Grandma while Grandma is showing her how to use her arms (working on hand over hand by 'reaching' for Grandma)Bugs jumping from the steps
Swimming to Grandma
Yea, she made it!
"wanna jump again", says Bugs

Baby

Bugs has been carrying around her baby doll for a few days nonstop. I finally asked her what the baby's name was. All she would say is "baby brudder". Brother and I teased her for a little bit and kept asking if it was a baby sister. All she would say (in a strong voice) "No, Baby Bruuudddddder."

Bug's Haircut

Bugs got about 1 1/2 inches cut off of her hair the other night. This was only her second haircut ever, and she was so excited! She always gets to see her brother and daddy get their haircut about every 4-6 weeks, and it was finally her turn! She did so well! She had to stand on the chair, since she was too little sitting on it (even when she was sitting on her booster seat). She stood perfectly still, not moving an inch.

Pretty girl!

My New Toy!

For my birthday, Daddy and the kids got me a new flash for my camera. I love it! My house is really dark inside so I need all the help I can get. I also loved that the gift was Daddy's idea (I didn't even ask for it...well, I knew that I wanted one, but I didn't ask for it for my birthday!). I just love that he appreciates what little skill I have and believes in me to invest in my hobby. Also, he took the money for my flash out of his car account! Now that is love!

Perfect! Two of my favorite people!

Cute! Now can I get one without the messy face??
I guess not...

Little Sister's Turn!

Bugs got to go on a ride with Daddy. She is such a big girl!

Hi Mommy!
Let's get this thing moving already!
I'll drive Daddy!
How was the ride?

Goin' To The County Fair!

We went to the fair with some friends this year and the kids all had a blast going on the rides and eating fair food. Nothing better.

Being silly "posing" for the picture...

Hi guys! Ready to on the ride??

Give him your ticket first...
Looks like a pro...
Just keep walking...
Gotta make sure that we send the tallest daddy to go on with them! What a good sport!
Hold on!!
No screaming allowed!

Off to do it again on another ride...

Movie In The Park

We just found out this summer that our city puts on free movies in the park on Friday nights. Brother and I decided to try it out and invited some of our friends. What fun it was! The movie we saw was "Flushed Away" and the boys loved it (you can always win with bathroom humor). We only made it to one movie this summer, but plan on doing it a lot more next summer!

The "boys" waiting for the movie to begin.

Girls Night Out

Sometimes you just need a girls night out...Gotta love those girlfriends!

Helping Mommy

What are you doing little girl! You are such a big helper!

Short Attention Span?

While listening to the radio on the way to soccer practice...

Brother - "That was Ooodle Cracker!"
Mommy - "His name was Uncle Cracker."
Brother - "UNCLE! Uncle's can't sing songs!!! My Papa sings songs, but he is not my Uncle."
Bugs - "Papa! I like Papa!"
Mommy - "You do?"
Bugs - "Yea!"
Mommy - "That's good..."

And that conversation took a detour in 0.75 seconds!

American Bento

Here is a look at a lunch I packed for Brother. Now that he is in school all day, we have the added joy of deciding whether to get a hot lunch or pack a lunch. Brother would prefer me to pack his lunch everyday, but that puts a lot of pressure on me to be the perfect mom (I can't live up to that expectation! Nightmares I tell ya!). We decided to compromise and do half and half (or so...I tend to pack his lunch more often though since he begs a lot...). I would like to get a little adventurous in his meals, however, he is addicted to pb&j (and only grape jelly!). I will try though...

Here is one of my first bento lunches. They are a lot of fun!

PB&J in a Nascar box

Carrots, string cheese and bug crackers in Buzz Lightyear box

Fig Newton cookies in Transformer box

Spelling Question

Brother - "Mom, how do you spell Forrest?"
Mommy - "FORREST"
Brother - "There is no P in it?"
Mommy - "Nope"
Brother - "Oh...sometimes when there is a P and a H, it makes the F sound."
Mommy - (pauses due to shock) "Why yes, that is correct."

This is first grade spelling?!

Outdoor Adventures

We were fortunate enough to head up to the mountains this summer and spend a long weekend at a fun cabin. I have never seen so many 8 track tapes in one place! Every nook and cranny were filled with them. We had a great time! We went swimming, played golf and even got to go to an outdoor musical. The musical was great and the kids had a great time (lots of belly laughs from Brother!). Here are some random pictures from our mini vacation.

Brother was just learning to ride his bike without training wheels and did a great job on the dirt road. However, this is the spot where he went "over" the edge. We were all yelling for him to stop and he panicked. Luckily he didn't go very far before the foliage stopped him and I will admit, it was pretty funny. He didn't think so at first (as he was more concerned with his very few scratches), but saw the humor in it later.

Here he traded his bike for Bug's bike. Where did he learn to go to the top of the road and come screaming down full speed ahead? Oh yea, he learned that from Daddy. Daddy was doing it on Brother's bike and he looked really funny (like a clown in a circus). I never seem to have my camera during those moments...

Bugs was busy talking on her very tiny phone. I think she was talking to Daddy or Papa or Grandma. That is who she seems to call the most.

Brother is showing off his football poses.

Hey there cute girl! You look a little too innocent...
Right back at 'cha!
And this was the view on the way home from camping.

This is Daddy's favorite. He woke me up to take this picture (my eyes were just closed, I was not asleep...). He likes that he can see right up his nose. I feel sorry for the blackmail that is sure to come in his teen years.

Bugs Discovery

What did you find Bugs?

Are you sure that you are close enough?
"white dere mommy"
Oh, I see it now! Pretty cool.