So I'll direct you over to my embarrassing moment of the week post on my other blog. I'd post pictures of my scrapes, but that would just be gross. Maybe if you see me you can ask to see the general nastiness that is currently my knee. Enough about me, that's not why you read, and I know it.
Okay briefly this week was playgroup, playdate, speech therapy/library for Beth, Visiting teaching (not fun for the kids) and bowling. Yes, we took all three kids bowling. It was interesting. Beth did an amazing job of somehow really swinging the ball down the lanes. The boys used this weird rack thing to roll the ball and both scored higher than Beth (which made her sad, but I'm super proud of her).
Rob won--he had like a 96. I was not far behind--I think, I honestly forget. Rob got lucky and did a spare, then a strike, and then an eight. Otherwise I would have won. I was ahead of him until like turn or round eight. Enough about us. We forgot the camera. So no pics.
The boys were about done when we got to round six. They were more interested in the arcade. Plus I think they realized Mom and Dad weren't that great when super bowlers showed up and starting bowling next to us. They just kept getting strike after strike. Suddenly Mom and Dad weren't quite so cool anymore.
(Actually I though Super Bowlers were kind of sweet. They were understanding of the kids and it was a Mom and her teenage (like high school) son. They joked and laughed together and were really really good--they probably compete. It was nice to see some family bonding.)
We had the Holmes spend the afternoon with us again on Sunday. Our whole family misses them. But they are happy and having fun in Kansas, which we are so glad that they are happy.
On a small side note, Rob and I will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Wowza! The time sure has flown by. I love you Rob!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Last Week
So it was a busy week last week. There is always the adjustment period of coming home from a vacation, and laundry. You have to love all of the laundry. But it was great to see the kids again. They are doing so well. They are happy and enjoying summer vacation. This morning we all slept in until 9:00. Once Rob got up for work at 7:00, they all began piling into bed. There really isn't a happier feeling then being surrounded by your kids and just being sleepy and happy.
The end of last week was busy, busy. It really was. The Holmes came to visit and the kids played hard. We went to the Science Museum, and to the park. On Friday we went on the paddle boats. That was hot, hot, hot. And then Rob tried to bump the shore so that Beth could get out on the island at Lake Johnson and look around. He got us stuck. Really stuck. He had to climb out and push us out. We ended up with sunburns and sweaty, but it was fun. It was nice to the Holmes again. The kids all just started playing like it had been no time since they had seen each other.
We went to a preschool today for Caleb. I felt really good about it. Caleb seemed happy while he was there, but now he says he doesn't want to go. I think he will like it. The preschool isn't far from our house and it comes recommended by other people. The director was super nice. We are going to give it a go. I think Caleb needs a little structure before kindergarten. This school is more focused on play than teaching. It should be a good thing.
Jacob is still working on talking. He really is trying, but is trying to morph two words into one. For example cheese stick is chisk. But I know what he is trying to stay. He also loves popsicles. And he asks for sicles. And then he say orn for orange. He doesn't like purple, but he can say purple too. He is learning his colors from popsicles. I just need to find somewhere that sells blue, green, and yellow. I actually really want a green popsicle right now.
Rob had an interesting Father's Day. He stayed up late, late Saturday night. Then we went to church and Jacob got away from him and ran up to the front stand during the closing remarks of the last talk. Caleb looked at me for a moment and then ran after him. I decided to stay put, because I figured two adults would make a bigger scene. Well, Rob didn't think he could get both boys off of the stand. So he stayed up there for the song and the prayer. We left right away. Rob was too embarrassed to stick around for his brownie.
Beth is having fun and reading, reading, reading. She is trying to earn free books, and other great prizes over the summer. She's been a lot of fun to have home. The television's been off most of every day and she is playing well with Caleb and Jacob. It is awesome!
That's it for the week.
The end of last week was busy, busy. It really was. The Holmes came to visit and the kids played hard. We went to the Science Museum, and to the park. On Friday we went on the paddle boats. That was hot, hot, hot. And then Rob tried to bump the shore so that Beth could get out on the island at Lake Johnson and look around. He got us stuck. Really stuck. He had to climb out and push us out. We ended up with sunburns and sweaty, but it was fun. It was nice to the Holmes again. The kids all just started playing like it had been no time since they had seen each other.
We went to a preschool today for Caleb. I felt really good about it. Caleb seemed happy while he was there, but now he says he doesn't want to go. I think he will like it. The preschool isn't far from our house and it comes recommended by other people. The director was super nice. We are going to give it a go. I think Caleb needs a little structure before kindergarten. This school is more focused on play than teaching. It should be a good thing.
Jacob is still working on talking. He really is trying, but is trying to morph two words into one. For example cheese stick is chisk. But I know what he is trying to stay. He also loves popsicles. And he asks for sicles. And then he say orn for orange. He doesn't like purple, but he can say purple too. He is learning his colors from popsicles. I just need to find somewhere that sells blue, green, and yellow. I actually really want a green popsicle right now.
Rob had an interesting Father's Day. He stayed up late, late Saturday night. Then we went to church and Jacob got away from him and ran up to the front stand during the closing remarks of the last talk. Caleb looked at me for a moment and then ran after him. I decided to stay put, because I figured two adults would make a bigger scene. Well, Rob didn't think he could get both boys off of the stand. So he stayed up there for the song and the prayer. We left right away. Rob was too embarrassed to stick around for his brownie.
Beth is having fun and reading, reading, reading. She is trying to earn free books, and other great prizes over the summer. She's been a lot of fun to have home. The television's been off most of every day and she is playing well with Caleb and Jacob. It is awesome!
That's it for the week.
Book Update
Quick book list update
44. Carolina Autumn
45. Charlotte's Rose
46. A Dance for Three
47. Eva Underground
48. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend
49. Fame, Glory and Other Things on My To Do List
50. Heck Superhero
51. A Mother to Embarrass Me
52. Lizzie at Last
53. Keturah and Lord Death
54. Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws
55. True Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
44. Carolina Autumn
45. Charlotte's Rose
46. A Dance for Three
47. Eva Underground
48. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend
49. Fame, Glory and Other Things on My To Do List
50. Heck Superhero
51. A Mother to Embarrass Me
52. Lizzie at Last
53. Keturah and Lord Death
54. Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws
55. True Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A short update
Last week was a lot of fun, but man I missed my kids. The writing conference was great. I learned a ton of great information. I got really hyped about writing, but I was exhausted at the end of every day. I'm just not used to sitting and listening for eight plus hours a day. I also had fun seeing my brothers and sisters. The family photo was a lot of fun! (wink! wink!) Since Sarah's moving out of state next month, my mom didn't know when the brothers and sisters would all be together again. Sad but very true fact that it will likely be at least five years. It was good to stay at Sarah's house and baby Ethan is adorable. Sarah also knows her some mean baby talk. I've never seen anyone coo as much as she does. Ethan's a very lucky baby!
The kids had fun with Nana and stayed up way too late every single night. Rob had a hectic week, so it was good that my mom was there to help out at home. I couldn't believe how much older they each looked when I saw them again. Craziness.
Our good friends the Holmes are coming this week, and we're super excited to see them for a few days. Then we will get into the summer groove, which includes daily reading and math homework. Plus we are instituting a chores system. Charts and earning stuff and lots of other goodies. We are also restricting T.V. time and I must say so far so good. Kids can and will play without the distraction of the television.
So I thought I'd update my book list, since I had that lovely long plane ride to read on. Plus some other extra time I've managed to squeeze in. (On a side note I requested 36 books from the library this week for me to read--I found new authors at the conference that are lots of fun.)
39. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (as always lots of fun!)
40. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols this is her first (as far as I can tell) outside of the romantic comedy series by Simon Pulse) and it is great. I've liked everything I've read by her, and this is pushing her up close to Sarah Dessen for a great emotional read. I'm glad I bought it on a whim.
41. It's a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison (took a short class on writing from her at the conference, I'm glad I did because I found a new great writer)
42. All's Fair in Love, War and High School by Janette Rallison (again totally fun)
43. This Is What I Did by Ann Dee Ellis very moving and sad
Well I still think I can hit my goal of 100 NEW books, cause I'm not counting the fact that I've already reread two of those books or any of the others that I reread.
Now Rob has been on me since my ahem literary taste has in his opinion been a little off. I say that I should read what I'm writing. He says I should read more literary books. I replied by asking which out of the two of us have read more literary books? He said point made.
But so my question is do you have any suggestions of more literary books especially targeted for YA or do you have any books that the language just pulls you in and creates wonderful imagery?
I'm not against reading the classics or gasp literary works--I've enjoyed most of what I've read. (Admittedly I didn't go for Wuthering Heights or The Scarlet Letter, even though I've tried them more than once) There now you have my true confession. Advise me please!
The kids had fun with Nana and stayed up way too late every single night. Rob had a hectic week, so it was good that my mom was there to help out at home. I couldn't believe how much older they each looked when I saw them again. Craziness.
Our good friends the Holmes are coming this week, and we're super excited to see them for a few days. Then we will get into the summer groove, which includes daily reading and math homework. Plus we are instituting a chores system. Charts and earning stuff and lots of other goodies. We are also restricting T.V. time and I must say so far so good. Kids can and will play without the distraction of the television.
So I thought I'd update my book list, since I had that lovely long plane ride to read on. Plus some other extra time I've managed to squeeze in. (On a side note I requested 36 books from the library this week for me to read--I found new authors at the conference that are lots of fun.)
39. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (as always lots of fun!)
40. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols this is her first (as far as I can tell) outside of the romantic comedy series by Simon Pulse) and it is great. I've liked everything I've read by her, and this is pushing her up close to Sarah Dessen for a great emotional read. I'm glad I bought it on a whim.
41. It's a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison (took a short class on writing from her at the conference, I'm glad I did because I found a new great writer)
42. All's Fair in Love, War and High School by Janette Rallison (again totally fun)
43. This Is What I Did by Ann Dee Ellis very moving and sad
Well I still think I can hit my goal of 100 NEW books, cause I'm not counting the fact that I've already reread two of those books or any of the others that I reread.
Now Rob has been on me since my ahem literary taste has in his opinion been a little off. I say that I should read what I'm writing. He says I should read more literary books. I replied by asking which out of the two of us have read more literary books? He said point made.
But so my question is do you have any suggestions of more literary books especially targeted for YA or do you have any books that the language just pulls you in and creates wonderful imagery?
I'm not against reading the classics or gasp literary works--I've enjoyed most of what I've read. (Admittedly I didn't go for Wuthering Heights or The Scarlet Letter, even though I've tried them more than once) There now you have my true confession. Advise me please!
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Trip to the Zoo
Mim's mom came out to help watch the kids while Mim was at a writers' conference in Utah, and I decided to take a day off from work and take everyone to the North Carolina zoo. Even though it was really hot, we had a great time. I think the kids had more fun in the gift store and climbing on anything climbable, like rocks, barriers, fences, etc., than in looking at any live animals. Hope you enjoy our little video.Click the "A Trip to the Zoo" link below the video to watch it in HD.
A Trip to the Zoo from Robert Caldwell on Vimeo.