We recently took a trip to Brevard, NC with family. We had a great time. The kids loved swimming in the river and standing near waterfalls. The water was freezing, as always. We camped two nights. It was the first time Beth camped, and she loved it, which made me really happy. I can't wait till we can go on river rafting trips =)
Hope you enjoy our little video. And as always, click on the actual vimeo link to view the video in HD (720p).
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Human Sling Shots, and Fire Alarms
Yesterday was quite the day. All day long there were moments when I thought I just have to blog about that. So here is the post.
First Caleb created a human slingshot by tying an exercise band between the two railings on the stairs. He was pulling himself up the stairs in the band, ready to launch himself when I walked down the stairs. Good thing too, since he was aimed at a wall only a few feet from the base of the stairs. We don't want another broken arm.
Next we had a great test of all of our smoke detectors. Last night we had BLTs for dinner, yummy. And so I could bacon. I didn't burn any bacon, but it got kind of smokey in the apartment. Well the downstairs smoke detector went off, and so I ran around opening windows, and then the ones upstair went off. We had five smoke detectors going off at the same time, and I couldn't turn them off. Believe me I tried. The kids were flipping out, and It was so loud I'm sure you could hear it out on the street. But now we know they really work, and they work well. So we will be safe in the event of a fire.
Beth likes to pretend she's a dog sometimes and last night she told me she was half dog. I asked which half was dog my half or Rob's, and she replied "My unique half." It was a good answer, but really made me laugh.
She also told me that she's convinced that Jacob is already potty trained, but that he wants prizes, so he pretends not to be so he can be spoiled. Yesterday we went out and got a poopy basket and filled it with toys so that when he poops on the potty he will be rewarded, since that is his major hang up. We also got a Buzz Light Year toy that he will get after being accident free fora week or two. And yesterday he was completely accident free, and very excited about his new toys and prizes. She just may be right. He was trained in April and then backslid, and so we are looking for him to get motivated so that he'll do it and we can be done.
The kids have had a busy summer with swim lessons, a trip to the beach, a visit to Hickory and some geocaching (which involved the kids getting ticks) and other exciting Saturday activities. Have a great summer!
First Caleb created a human slingshot by tying an exercise band between the two railings on the stairs. He was pulling himself up the stairs in the band, ready to launch himself when I walked down the stairs. Good thing too, since he was aimed at a wall only a few feet from the base of the stairs. We don't want another broken arm.
Next we had a great test of all of our smoke detectors. Last night we had BLTs for dinner, yummy. And so I could bacon. I didn't burn any bacon, but it got kind of smokey in the apartment. Well the downstairs smoke detector went off, and so I ran around opening windows, and then the ones upstair went off. We had five smoke detectors going off at the same time, and I couldn't turn them off. Believe me I tried. The kids were flipping out, and It was so loud I'm sure you could hear it out on the street. But now we know they really work, and they work well. So we will be safe in the event of a fire.
Beth likes to pretend she's a dog sometimes and last night she told me she was half dog. I asked which half was dog my half or Rob's, and she replied "My unique half." It was a good answer, but really made me laugh.
She also told me that she's convinced that Jacob is already potty trained, but that he wants prizes, so he pretends not to be so he can be spoiled. Yesterday we went out and got a poopy basket and filled it with toys so that when he poops on the potty he will be rewarded, since that is his major hang up. We also got a Buzz Light Year toy that he will get after being accident free fora week or two. And yesterday he was completely accident free, and very excited about his new toys and prizes. She just may be right. He was trained in April and then backslid, and so we are looking for him to get motivated so that he'll do it and we can be done.
The kids have had a busy summer with swim lessons, a trip to the beach, a visit to Hickory and some geocaching (which involved the kids getting ticks) and other exciting Saturday activities. Have a great summer!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Some Funnies
Recent conversation:
Beth: Mom tell Caleb what a birthmark is?
Me: Why don't you tell him?
Beth: A birthmark is a mark you get when you are born so we know that you don't come from an alien planet.
We visited Busch Gardens recently and went on a ride that was called Tidal Wave at Lagoon, I don't remember the name at Busch Gardens, but it's big boat that goes back and forth swinging up and down. Beth wouldn't go on it, but it was one of the real rides even the boys could do. So they went. They were having a pretty could time, until people started screaming, and then Jacob started crying. We talked afterwards about how screaming makes the ride more fun, and you are supposed to scream. Jacob said: So I'll say Woo Hoo! And then he insisted that he wanted to ride it again, and he Woo Hooed the whole ride through the second time.
Caleb sat down with me to practice reading yesterday, and managed to successfully sound out the words we were going to cover. Reading with pictures is a problem because eh tries to just tell the story instead of looking at the words, but he is doing awesome. His cast is off after eight weeks, and now he is in a splint for another month. Poor Guy--but he can go swimming!
Beth: Mom tell Caleb what a birthmark is?
Me: Why don't you tell him?
Beth: A birthmark is a mark you get when you are born so we know that you don't come from an alien planet.
We visited Busch Gardens recently and went on a ride that was called Tidal Wave at Lagoon, I don't remember the name at Busch Gardens, but it's big boat that goes back and forth swinging up and down. Beth wouldn't go on it, but it was one of the real rides even the boys could do. So they went. They were having a pretty could time, until people started screaming, and then Jacob started crying. We talked afterwards about how screaming makes the ride more fun, and you are supposed to scream. Jacob said: So I'll say Woo Hoo! And then he insisted that he wanted to ride it again, and he Woo Hooed the whole ride through the second time.
Caleb sat down with me to practice reading yesterday, and managed to successfully sound out the words we were going to cover. Reading with pictures is a problem because eh tries to just tell the story instead of looking at the words, but he is doing awesome. His cast is off after eight weeks, and now he is in a splint for another month. Poor Guy--but he can go swimming!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Overheard
Overheard conversation: Beth and Caleb were arguing about which one should be dropped off for school first since Caleb's is closer and starts at nine, but Beth's is farther away and starts at 9:10--which means Caleb is always late for school when I have to drive Beth.
Beth: Caleb I can't be tardy, and that's why mom always drops me off first.
Caleb: What's tardy?
Beth: It's when they put a mark on your report card. And if I get a tardy it will affect whether or not I can go to a good college. BYU is a good college while some other ones aren't, and I really want to go to BYU or at least Mom wants me to. That's why I'm first.
Beth: Caleb I can't be tardy, and that's why mom always drops me off first.
Caleb: What's tardy?
Beth: It's when they put a mark on your report card. And if I get a tardy it will affect whether or not I can go to a good college. BYU is a good college while some other ones aren't, and I really want to go to BYU or at least Mom wants me to. That's why I'm first.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Changes in the Way We Do Things
After a few disturbing stories about predators and photos of children on the Internets, we are changing the way we do the blog. Rob and I have been going back and forth on this issue for as long as we have had the blog, but a particular event pushed us to take steps. Currently we are simply password protecting all video and pictures that are posted to the blog. This means we can post the link to the slideshows and videos, you click on it and then enter a password to view.
We want to share our lives with you, without letting all the creepies in the world join in. So you can email me at miriam (dot) caldwell (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you the password. I just have to verify that you aren't a creepy. Please don't hesitate to email me requesting the password. Rob and I are both a bit worried that this will put off old friends, that we aren't in touch with on a regular basis or make people feel uncomfortable. Basically if we can verify that one of us has met you in real life and we don't consider you scary you'll get the password.
Okay now that the awkwardness is all out of the way a bit of an update.
Last Saturday we went to the zoo and met Gail and Eldon who brought along Chloe. Beth and Caleb were excited to see her nice green cast, and I think they were a little jealous of her broken arm. It was a fun trip, not a lot of pressure, with some walking. It wasn't hot, which was super nice, but Rob didn't take the camera since they were calling for rain. It didn't rain while we were there, but Gail and Eldon left early because of Tornado Watches or Warnings.
Sunday was a typical day, but the rest of the week has just been one thing after another. Monday was okay. But Tuesday was rough. My day consisted of cleaning a broken plate and finger painting on the wall. Then we headed to the library where a little girl went missing. It was awful, she was found, but I still shake inside when I think about it. The poor mom. It really bothered Caleb, he still talks about her screaming (in grief, panic, terror). The police came. They found the little girl. But everyone at the library was really shaken up. And then we come home. It doesn't get better unfortunately. I'm taking care of a few phone calls downstairs, and then I hear Caleb crying. It's not a normal cry, and I run upstairs. He was walking towards me still screaming and clutching his arm. It looked bowed out and just funny. Plus Caleb's tough and shakes most things off.
So we head to the doctor. We left the house around 1:00 and got home after 6:00. He has a broken arm. He broke the Ulna on his left arm. It's a pretty bad break, the two pieces of bone were at an angle to each other. The radial bone is bowed out, and the doctor thinks it is probably broken as well, even though it didn't show up on the x-ray. Poor Caleb spent much of the afternoon whimpering, and wasn't happy when the doctor wrapped the cast and set the bone. He chose a green cast (no surprise since that is his favorite color) and was upset when the cast got hot as it hardened. He is already complaining of itching and he doesn't like the extra attention--at least not today.
I'd post a picture of the break, but it's in dropbox, and that's Rob's thing. I am just not that technologically savvy. I'm okay with that.
The rest of the kids are doing great. And Rob and I are trying not to feel like guilty parents. (Caleb was jumping off his dresser onto his bed for fun and landed on his arm--Jacob jumped again today---so hopefully no repeats.)
We want to share our lives with you, without letting all the creepies in the world join in. So you can email me at miriam (dot) caldwell (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you the password. I just have to verify that you aren't a creepy. Please don't hesitate to email me requesting the password. Rob and I are both a bit worried that this will put off old friends, that we aren't in touch with on a regular basis or make people feel uncomfortable. Basically if we can verify that one of us has met you in real life and we don't consider you scary you'll get the password.
Okay now that the awkwardness is all out of the way a bit of an update.
Last Saturday we went to the zoo and met Gail and Eldon who brought along Chloe. Beth and Caleb were excited to see her nice green cast, and I think they were a little jealous of her broken arm. It was a fun trip, not a lot of pressure, with some walking. It wasn't hot, which was super nice, but Rob didn't take the camera since they were calling for rain. It didn't rain while we were there, but Gail and Eldon left early because of Tornado Watches or Warnings.
Sunday was a typical day, but the rest of the week has just been one thing after another. Monday was okay. But Tuesday was rough. My day consisted of cleaning a broken plate and finger painting on the wall. Then we headed to the library where a little girl went missing. It was awful, she was found, but I still shake inside when I think about it. The poor mom. It really bothered Caleb, he still talks about her screaming (in grief, panic, terror). The police came. They found the little girl. But everyone at the library was really shaken up. And then we come home. It doesn't get better unfortunately. I'm taking care of a few phone calls downstairs, and then I hear Caleb crying. It's not a normal cry, and I run upstairs. He was walking towards me still screaming and clutching his arm. It looked bowed out and just funny. Plus Caleb's tough and shakes most things off.
So we head to the doctor. We left the house around 1:00 and got home after 6:00. He has a broken arm. He broke the Ulna on his left arm. It's a pretty bad break, the two pieces of bone were at an angle to each other. The radial bone is bowed out, and the doctor thinks it is probably broken as well, even though it didn't show up on the x-ray. Poor Caleb spent much of the afternoon whimpering, and wasn't happy when the doctor wrapped the cast and set the bone. He chose a green cast (no surprise since that is his favorite color) and was upset when the cast got hot as it hardened. He is already complaining of itching and he doesn't like the extra attention--at least not today.
I'd post a picture of the break, but it's in dropbox, and that's Rob's thing. I am just not that technologically savvy. I'm okay with that.
The rest of the kids are doing great. And Rob and I are trying not to feel like guilty parents. (Caleb was jumping off his dresser onto his bed for fun and landed on his arm--Jacob jumped again today---so hopefully no repeats.)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Funnies!
Conversation:
Caleb: What are bulls?
Me: They're male mean cows with horns and nose rings.
Caleb: So they are dad cows that are mean to protect the babies from creditors.
Me: What are creditors?
Caleb: Bad guys who do mean things and steal.
Caleb: What are bulls?
Me: They're male mean cows with horns and nose rings.
Caleb: So they are dad cows that are mean to protect the babies from creditors.
Me: What are creditors?
Caleb: Bad guys who do mean things and steal.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
So I didn't post . . .
I didn't post last week. Nothing much had happened, and there weren't any funny stories to tell. I worked all weekend, and didn't want to spend the time on the computer. But this has been a new week. This weekend we were going to go visit the zoo, since we only have a month left on the membership, and we likely won't renew it over the summer unless we go to an aquarium again. It's just too hot to do the zoo all day in the summer.
But before we went (it was kind of a last minute decision to go) Rob decided he did want to go pick up this special release DVD of The Mountain Goats. We hurried to get in the car and drive twenty minutes to the one record shop in town that had some, but Rob neglected to tell me it was Record Store Day, which may have changed my willing ness to participate in this adventure. I drop Rob off since the parking there is awful. The store is right across from NC State on the no parking side, where they are installing the roundabouts. Meaning it's a mess. The plan was I'd do a loop or two and Rob would be out on the curb. So I loop once, really taking my time going through campus. Come back no Rob. Loop again, come back, no Rob. Loop again--no Rob. Finally after forty five minutes in the car, I decide Rob must have died and been carried off in an ambulance during one of my loops. So I find a parking spot on campus--so glad it's Saturday. Haul the three kids out of the car, and it starts to rain. Then we walk to the record store and walk in.
It is filled with old men and a line that wraps around the store. And Rob is still ten people back from the register. Wondering if they take debit cards, since everyone he's watched has paid cash, holding the LAST copy of the DVD in his hand. The kids are upset. I talked to him briefly, ask the person in front of him if they take cards (they do) and then haul the kids out of there back into the construction on the road, and we wait at the bell tower.
The kids still want to go the zoo, but I'm not too keen on the idea because we wouldn't get there until two and they close at five. But Rob's for it. But I make him check the air pressure in the tire. (And there are two previous stories where he brushed my concerns aside, but we won't go there) The air was low, and he filled it up, and found the nail that was causing the slow leak. So now I don't want to drive to the zoo. Even though I'm pretty certain we drove to the beach on that tire, because I filled it up with air a month ago.
So I suggest bowling to the kids. And they say okay, as long as we go to the zoo next week, which is our plan. Rob grumbles a bit about the bowling, but on some fluke we got mailed a certificate for four free games and shoe rentals. We'd only have to pay for one person to bowl, and that's a good deal. But we get to the bowling alley and they are in the midst of a hardcore tournament. So we leave, kids in tears.
Finally we determine to go to Earth Day in downtown Raleigh. The celebration was a lot of fun last year, but as soon as we get there we had issues. Poor Caleb is going through an extremely phobic stage. Pretty bad. And there are two things there he is afraid of dogs (lots of dogs) and the Fat Cat from the credit union, which is someone dressed up in the costume. We ended up touring the history museum, and then went back outside where Caleb had a complete meltdown, and then really hurt his dad. Yeah it was bad. So we left without doing anything at the festival. All three kids were crying, and Rob's eyes were watering something fierce. Plus he could barely walk.
To appease Beth and Jacob we decided to go to the Mordecai House (the haunted house) and check out some ghosts. The kids actually did amazingly well on the tour, which didn't talk about ghosts. It was a mall group us and three ladies. When we asked up the ladies didn't look too pleased and they whispered at each other. You know what I mean. But I'm proud to say that at the end of the tour they complimented us on our well-behaved kids, which isn't something we usually hear. Caleb is convinced there was a ghost because the rocking chair moved by itself. And Jacob wants to get a bathtub shaped like a hat that they had there.
On the way home we hit Sonic during happy hour and got some yummy drinks.
Caleb can write most of the alphabet. There are five letters he needs to work on. The only reason I share this is because i decided on Friday night that we should start working on his writing. So I sat down and said draw me an A Caleb. We went through the whole alphabet, and he'd tell me the sound and draw the letter. It's amazing to me since I haven't worked on it with him yet. And I never see him drawing and writing like Beth did at his age. Then we wrote words together, and he was able to sound most of them out. Super proud.
Beth is really starting to read more and she brought home several fours on her papers. Good stuff. I'm super proud. Jacob is doing amazing with speech. I've a feeling that we might be able to stop soon, but I don't want him to regress, so we'll see.
Have a great week everyone!
But before we went (it was kind of a last minute decision to go) Rob decided he did want to go pick up this special release DVD of The Mountain Goats. We hurried to get in the car and drive twenty minutes to the one record shop in town that had some, but Rob neglected to tell me it was Record Store Day, which may have changed my willing ness to participate in this adventure. I drop Rob off since the parking there is awful. The store is right across from NC State on the no parking side, where they are installing the roundabouts. Meaning it's a mess. The plan was I'd do a loop or two and Rob would be out on the curb. So I loop once, really taking my time going through campus. Come back no Rob. Loop again, come back, no Rob. Loop again--no Rob. Finally after forty five minutes in the car, I decide Rob must have died and been carried off in an ambulance during one of my loops. So I find a parking spot on campus--so glad it's Saturday. Haul the three kids out of the car, and it starts to rain. Then we walk to the record store and walk in.
It is filled with old men and a line that wraps around the store. And Rob is still ten people back from the register. Wondering if they take debit cards, since everyone he's watched has paid cash, holding the LAST copy of the DVD in his hand. The kids are upset. I talked to him briefly, ask the person in front of him if they take cards (they do) and then haul the kids out of there back into the construction on the road, and we wait at the bell tower.
The kids still want to go the zoo, but I'm not too keen on the idea because we wouldn't get there until two and they close at five. But Rob's for it. But I make him check the air pressure in the tire. (And there are two previous stories where he brushed my concerns aside, but we won't go there) The air was low, and he filled it up, and found the nail that was causing the slow leak. So now I don't want to drive to the zoo. Even though I'm pretty certain we drove to the beach on that tire, because I filled it up with air a month ago.
So I suggest bowling to the kids. And they say okay, as long as we go to the zoo next week, which is our plan. Rob grumbles a bit about the bowling, but on some fluke we got mailed a certificate for four free games and shoe rentals. We'd only have to pay for one person to bowl, and that's a good deal. But we get to the bowling alley and they are in the midst of a hardcore tournament. So we leave, kids in tears.
Finally we determine to go to Earth Day in downtown Raleigh. The celebration was a lot of fun last year, but as soon as we get there we had issues. Poor Caleb is going through an extremely phobic stage. Pretty bad. And there are two things there he is afraid of dogs (lots of dogs) and the Fat Cat from the credit union, which is someone dressed up in the costume. We ended up touring the history museum, and then went back outside where Caleb had a complete meltdown, and then really hurt his dad. Yeah it was bad. So we left without doing anything at the festival. All three kids were crying, and Rob's eyes were watering something fierce. Plus he could barely walk.
To appease Beth and Jacob we decided to go to the Mordecai House (the haunted house) and check out some ghosts. The kids actually did amazingly well on the tour, which didn't talk about ghosts. It was a mall group us and three ladies. When we asked up the ladies didn't look too pleased and they whispered at each other. You know what I mean. But I'm proud to say that at the end of the tour they complimented us on our well-behaved kids, which isn't something we usually hear. Caleb is convinced there was a ghost because the rocking chair moved by itself. And Jacob wants to get a bathtub shaped like a hat that they had there.
On the way home we hit Sonic during happy hour and got some yummy drinks.
Caleb can write most of the alphabet. There are five letters he needs to work on. The only reason I share this is because i decided on Friday night that we should start working on his writing. So I sat down and said draw me an A Caleb. We went through the whole alphabet, and he'd tell me the sound and draw the letter. It's amazing to me since I haven't worked on it with him yet. And I never see him drawing and writing like Beth did at his age. Then we wrote words together, and he was able to sound most of them out. Super proud.
Beth is really starting to read more and she brought home several fours on her papers. Good stuff. I'm super proud. Jacob is doing amazing with speech. I've a feeling that we might be able to stop soon, but I don't want him to regress, so we'll see.
Have a great week everyone!