Sunday, May 31, 2009

Hiking at Cape Hatteras

I just got back from hiking with some friends along the Outer Banks of NC. We had a great time, collapsing tent and all. Cape Hatteras to Avon was beautiful. We had the majority of the coastline to ourselves. I may write a bit more about our trip later, but for now, I hope this hastily edited video will suffice. To view the video in HD (and I recommend it) click on the link under the video that says "Hiking Hatteras Island." Music is by Fleet Foxes.

Hiking Hatteras Island from Robert Caldwell on Vimeo.


If you wish to view some photos from the trip, Heather Winters has posted some great photos on her Picassa gallery.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Book Update

It's been awhile since I updated my book list, never fear I have still been reading. If I don't read then I am not happy. So read I must, must, must!


30. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Awesome book, great ending to the series that I loved)

31. Confessions of a completely Insane Mother

32. Contentment: Inspiring Thoughts for LDS Mothers

33. Love at First Click

34. Love on Cue

35. Some Cupid Chronicles Book (wasn't bad, but I already turned it in and I don't want to look it up)

36. Wings by Aprilynne Pike(she debuted on the NY Times bestseller list--fun book to read. It's the first in a series)

37. Graceling by Kristin Cashore This is a beautiful book. I can't wait to read other books by her. Big smiles!

38. I Captured the Castle-- enjoyable book recommended heavily by lots of family and friends, and I finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed it.

I think that's it--but I have been reading--I reread the Twilight series, because I was trying to figure out how to cut the I out of my first person novel--and I also reread Hunger Games for the same reason. I got three new books at the library, plus I'm super excited about a book that comes out in two weeks. --Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover.


Other random news--I'm headed to a writer's conference next week. I'm excited and hopeful. My novel is nearly done I do believe.

Also Karen sent me a website that tests your reading speed. Naturally I went to it. I read faster than normal to do it, but I averaged about 950. It's not like I can bring that fact up in polite conversation, but being a fast reader (and Rob likes to argue that I'm not a careful reader) is something I've always been secretly proud of. But it can't go on a resume or anything. And I figure you're only reading this far into the post because you like to read to--otherwise excuse my stupidty in sharing otherwise useless information!

I'm going to have to pick up the pace if I'm going to hit 100 New books this year!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Check Out the Latest Pictures

I guess Rob has started putting the pictures up on his facebook page. Anyways, here is a link to the album. These pictures are from the weekend we spent in Hickory.

Have fun!

Okay, Rob here .... here are a few for those too lazy and/or busy to click a link:




Saturday, May 23, 2009

Ball Yo Yos, Giant Water Balloon Fights, and Scary Monsters

I've not written for awhile, because basically I've wanted to do other things. I'm not going to lie about it. Two weekends ago was Mother's Day. Then last weekend we got to go up to Hickory for Casey's baptism. That was fun and exciting. Congrats Casey!

This weekend there have been lots of little fun things going on. Rob got the kids ball yo yos. These marvelous inventions wind themselves up, which means that the kids can do them. The are all good at it, except Jacob will pull up and the ball keeps hitting him in the head. Then he needs extra cuddles.

We promised the kids a water ballon fight, and we went and bought water balloons from Walmart. Theycame with a little valve thing to make filling them easier. They sucked! We broke our water filter with the stupid thing, and none of the balloons would fill up. So we resorted to using our giant balloons that the kids love to play with as water balloons. (The entire time I thought that this meant we would be throwing them at the ground.) Well Rob went outside and exuberantly began throwing them AT the kids. Knocked Caleb down flat with one. But then we started throwing them at the ground and the kids had a lot fun.

Yesterday they all drew chalk monsters on the sidewalk outside. Hopefully Rob will post some pics, since he used his camera to do it. It was cute. Beth did an awesome dragon all by herself. And Rob came out and acted scared of the monsters.

Well that's our weekly update. Have fun and take care!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Had to share

We had a bit of wild weather here on Tuesday--everyone made it through just fine.

Beth had to write a description of the weather for the current day for her homework assignment.

Her description:

The day started out sunny, then it got rainy with a touch of tornados!


I love it.

touch of tornados it is such a great play on words. Ahhh!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Jacobisms

As you know Jacob has unique ways to say things. They change from time to time.

Thought I'd share some with you.

Groggy means daddy (even though Jacob used to say daddy in the past)
Mommy--Mommy (yeah!)
Bet- Beth
Jacob--Caleb
Baby--Jacob
mink--drink/milk

Jacob asks for a banana

"Nana" points to banana

I give him a banana

Jacob- monky, monkey, monkey (repeated until you say are you my little monkey?)

Jacob--ooh, ahh, ooh, aah (trying to make monkey sounds)

He always gets chocolate right--he is my son!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Whistles, and other noisy things

What a week--well not really. Caleb got a whistle this week. He wanted to be a coach, and begged, and coaxed and wheedled until he got it. And man I wish he hadn't. For the last several days we have had loud ear blasting tweets in our ears. And at completely random times. But Caleb has learned, and now as an acceptable inside tweet, and a ear blasting outside tweet. I even have an adorable picture of Caleb asleep with the whistle in his mouth. But I can't find my camera cable to download the image.

Jacob is doing good. He is so fun right now. Happy and chatty (even though it is slightly gibberish). He likes to escape from the house and run for the road as fast as he can. He likes to play with Caleb, and to read books. He is doing a good job with learning. He is happy. Today at church we were doing laps during Sacrament meeting. He stopped and did a special wave and hi to three of his nursery workers. I'm glad that he recognizes them.

Beth is doing well. It was parent teacher conferences this week. She's doing really well in school. I really like her teacher this year, and I liked her teacher last year. I've been very happy with her school. Best of all and most importantly, Beth is happy with school. She is growing more confident and making friends. I'm super proud of her. It is awesome, that she is doing so good.

Rob picked up an extra job this weekend, snapping photos. I think he liked it, but now his hands hurt from holding the camera for over nine hours!

Me, I'm just holding steady. I'm working hard to get stuff done. And running around after the kids. Life is pretty good.