My birthday, my daughter, and my phone

We celebrated my birthday last weekend.  We went to the temple Friday night, did an endowment session and half of a sealing session (there was a live sealing we had to wait on).  Saturday we had a choir rehearsal, and we had cake with Grandma & Grandpa.  Benji took all the pictures - I may update with one later, because I don't have them.

Mother-daughter night at Activity Days was ... an experience.  We played minute-to-win-it games - which generally I don't really enjoy (I prefer mind puzzles), but I was happy to have a fun time with E ... which we had, except ... we didn't win.  This seemed to devastate E.  She was in tears when we left (small consolation that she wasn't the only one!).  *sigh*  Here she is maneuvering an Oreo cookie from her forehead to her mouth without using her hands.

So on Thursday, J (bless his heart) took my phone to the bathroom with him, and dropped it into the toilet.  I was looking for him, and found him just in time for him to say, "Mom - I hate to say this, but... I accidentally dropped your phone in the toilet.  But don't worry - I washed it off!"  After the shock, all I could do was laugh - which he did not appreciate.  It actually was still working - a little wonky, but working.  Then last night, it died.  So we bought a new one today.  I'm still hoping my old one will come back to life, and we can return the new one.  Maybe it just needs a couple more days of drying.  So ... I don't have as many pictures today - so I'll post these random ones:

Wanna be a dinosaur, Wampanoag Thanksgiving, and Water problems

I have been checking out educational CDs from the library to listen to in the car with the kids for probably over a year.  My children are in a dinosaur phase - especially E, the eldest.  So when I found a CD called "I Wanna Be a Dinosaur," I knew it would be a hit!  For family night, E and J put on a short concert of them singing their favorites.  So cute.  Next time, I'll have to get video.

Can't not put in a picture of T - he was sick last week with what we think was croup.  Bark-cough, and lost voice for a couple days, spent a lot of time steaming in the shower, but he is pretty back to normal now.  Here's a pic of my dear, little boy.  Which reminds me - J really loves his brother - I mean, we all love each other, but - J told me today that he would die for T, he loves him so much, and he's so cute.  :)

On Veteran's Day, we went on a field trip to American Village - a place where actors dress in period costume and teach history.  There is a replica of Mt Vernon, and a church replica from Colonial Williamsburg, and a replica of the Liberty Bell.  Oh - and stocks and pillory:

Anyway, they offered a special program for homeschoolers this day, doing a re-enactment of the First Thanksgiving.  It was quite clever - and interactive - E was chosen as a volunteer to sight land - she got to shout "Land, Ho!"  Then, we literally walked into the woods to meet King Massasoit, Chief of the Wampanoag to bring him gifts and a treaty.  Somehow, E got chosen again as one of the volunteers to offer a gift to the chief.  So in this picture, she is up front, down on one knee, holding up the bread offering.

Then, after some games on the lawn (J felt better about E being chosen twice, because he got to hide a stuffed turkey behind his back for a game of hot-and-cold where you "gobble"), we went to the feast.  I was concerned that the children would find it boring, after their somewhat disappointing reaction to Williamsburg, but they had so much fun, they didn't want to leave.

So tonight, after the kids were tucked into bed, T was leading me downstairs.  When he needs us, he will very determinedly and quietly lead us somewhere.  If I'm in bed, he might try to pull my foot to the floor or move my arm.  In this case, I wasn't in bed, and he led me to the stairs going down before I figured out he wanted to watch tv, but I am very grateful that I indulged his tugging (I like to encourage communication), because there was water literally pouring down the wall downstairs, and dripping out of the ceiling.  Here's some of the damage in the ceiling tiles (some of the stain is old, but wet parts are new).

Speaking of T communication, I was trying to feed him at dinner, and he turned his head away and very clearly said, "Don't want."  He seems to get cuter every day.

Halloween, History (the family kind), and a Haircut

Well, my older children were really excited to be a six-headed monster for Halloween.  They prepared paper plates that looked happy, sad, mad, and jealous.  But when it came down to Trunk-or-treat time, E was a cat (she made the ears herself out of pipe cleaners and construction paper), and J was Spiderman.  T refused to don the bunny costume, so I put him in a Lion shirt Friday night, and put him in a Mexican poncho Saturday.  It rained on Halloween itself, so we limited the trick-or-treating, to our neighbors.

Love this boy:

Then there's this boy (whom I also love):

He watched as I attached sources to ancestors on our family tree, and wanted to help.  Now he is a family history monster - it's all he wants to do ... besides watch tv.  "Mom, when can we do some more, you know, famiy history?"

Benji has been extra busy with work lately.  So when he said he didn't have any meetings today, I took full advantage to go and get a haircut.  Here is how the hairdresser styled it:

I like the soft look.  I was going to go shorter, to match the regrowth of my hair from the surgery, but I think it blends nicely.  We'll see what it looks like when I try to style it - ha.  The salonist was very generous, and said I could come back for tweaks within the next day or two.  She regularly cuts Benji's hair.  J says I don't look like me anymore.  E says my hair looks more like Grandma's, and it's not me; "I like it; but I liked it BETTER before," she said.  T just smiled as if I looked funny.  :)  Benji didn't seem to care one way or another  Ok.

Back again, a business trip, and Halloween fun

Well, it's been too long since I've posted, and while there are good reasons, I do want to start posting again.

We had an adventurous week.  E and J both participated in the ward's Primary program last Sunday.  E delivered a talk on Baptism, and J recited John 3:16 from memory.  They both sang beautifully, and E even conducted the closing hymn, which was I Know that My Redeemer Lives.

We left after Sacrament meeting to head to Winston-Salem for business.  The kids and I basically stayed in the hotel for two days while Benji did his work.

We went swimming, homeschooled, enjoyed Mario's Pizza and other yummy restaurants, and E & J got lots of free snacks from the vending machine.  Lots.  I mean like probably at least 20 each per day.  We saw lots of beautiful autumn trees on our drives to and from NC.

We had ice cream on our way home:

Sweet T is saying "Cheese" with all his heart.

Today, we had two Halloween parties - one with our homeschool group, and one was the ward's Chili cook-off and Trunk-or-Treat.  E won 2nd place in the pumpkin decorating contest for the 2nd year in a row!  She was actually a little sad that she won, because she really wanted J to win.  He got to get in line for a prize after the high-prize winners, though, and was very excited about his gift card to an arcade.  Yay?  E chose a glow-in-the-dark dinosaur.  She is really into dinosaurs recently.  T fell asleep on the way to the park, but woke up, and proceeded to eat during the rest of our time there.

Our Vacation - frozen Frozen, Assateague, and more

Day 1

After Seminary, we got in the car, and headed to Big Stone Gap, Virginia, to visit some friends and stay for the night.  Benji knew them in high school, and after E was born, I watched their daughter during the day until they moved away.  They also lost a baby just a few months before we lost our baby, ... anyway, they are especially near and dear to our hearts.  We stayed up late catching up.  They have a baby just a few months older than T.

Day 2

We slept in then headed to Hampton, Virginia to spend a few days with my sister, Katherine, and her family.  They are being stationed out of the country next month, so it was awesome that they were on the way to Assateague Island.  Actually, that is part of the reason we decided to meet Bob & Anna at Assateague in the first place.  We arrived, settled in a bit, ordered pizza, and visited while the kids played together (E: in the garage).  Justin had a gig, so he got home later.  T was fascinated with Uncle Justin's action figure collection.

Day 3

We planned a day-trip to Colonial Williamsburg.  We parked by the Visitors' Center and walked a distance to the village (learned later there is paid parking much closer).  The children did not really appreciate the living history, but we got some pics, so we can prove they were there sometime when they may care.  They did, however, like the candy shop.  Benji let E & J pick out one item of their choice.  E chose a deluxe candied apple (with chocolate candy pieces and everything!), and J chose a chocolate pumpkin.  When we got back and cut open the candied apple, E decided that actually she did not like candied apples - too caramelly - I thought it was delicious.  It's a shame, though, for all the begging she did for the caramel apple.  Aunt Katherine made a delicious homemade chicken noodle soup ... which the kids did not care for, but had to eat anyway.  I had seconds, and possibly thirds.

Day 4

We spent the day mostly relaxing - the dads took the kids to a large park while Katherine & I picked up her raw milk.  Benji kept texting us when would we be back, and could we please bring water.  They walked to the park, but did not want to walk back.  They did run into one of Justin's best friends in the air force band, and the kids all played together, and even after we arrived with water, we probably stayed another hour.

That evening, we had a surprise for the children - we did not give them a clue.  First, Aunt Katherine picked up their former foreign exchange student, then we all went out to Olive Garden.  We went to the Hampton Coliseum ... 

... it was Disney's Frozen on Ice.  

It was sweet.  Albeit pricey.  Benji told me to take E & J out one-by-one to pick out a souvenir of their choice.  They each chose a wand that has tendrils ($25 and $22 respectively) that light up and spin around when you push a button.  It was kind of neat to see these devices throughout the stadium during the performance.  Oh the crown came with the cotton candy ($13).

The neatest thing to me about the performance was that most of the audience sang along with the songs.  Big crowd vibe.  At the beginning and ending of the program, they bring out lots of Disney characters - almost all the princesses, and Buzz & Woody, and of course Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy.  I was impressed with the snow monster.

Day 5

We went to 9am Sacrament meeting - but left after the Sacrament - T was already in the hall with me following him around, when Benji came out with the other two.  We went back to Katherine & Justin's, changed clothes, and headed to Assateague Island.  We went through the tunnels under the Chesapeake Bay and across the bridge that is several miles long.

We were a little fascinated by the sea gulls that were on every lamppost - and many many dead seagulls on the side of the bridge - I am glad we did not hit one - that would be distracting on a bridge.  We arrived on the island.  Assateague has herds of wild horses that roam the thin, barrier island.  We saw several on our way to in to the ranger station and campsite.  

We arrived and scoped out our site - holy mosquitos!  We stayed on the bayside of the island (less sand) and were literally right next to the marshes and then the bay.  We set up our tent.

Bob & Anna and their kids arrived with their travel trailer while we were finishing setting up the tent.  We decided to go for some seafood on the mainland for dinner.  Service was slow.  But the food was good enough.  A couple hours later, we arrived back, visited for a bit, and went to bed.  The kids fell right to sleep - except T, who decided to attack J a few times before I held him too tight, and he submitted to sleep.  I got up at about 4am, and as I stood up in the tent, I heard a horse noise, then saw a horse walk right by our tent door!  Grandma & Grandpa arrived late in the night.

Day 6

Dew drops woke us in the morning.  We like the design of the tent as far as circulation ... but there was an issue of dew which collected then dripped down right about where our arms were.  We stayed in the tent until we heard Alex & Vickie on their bikes to go see Grandma & Grandpa.  We sent the kids out to join them.

There were 3 horses in an empty campsite.  So we visited the horses.  A small, harem herd of 4 horses owned the territory we camped on - we saw them every day.

We went for a hike - there are 3 hiking trails on the Maryland side of the island.  The Marshlands trail was very near our campground.  We saw lots of pretty waterfowl.  

After lunch, we took the kids to the bayside beach.  It was very calm and shallow waters, so I let T play in the water, and just followed along behind him, the water up to my ankles or thereabouts.  The older kids went out a long ways, and it was still almost just as shallow!

We had campfire hot dogs and s'mores and such for dinner.  The stars were beautiful.  I could make out the milky way, and several constellations.  I wish I knew more constellations, but I don't usually see them so well...  After dinner, the grandparents kept all the grandkids while the middle generation went to Wal-mart for ice and a few other supplies (more insect repellent, in particular).

Day 7

Some light rain during the night helped keep the dew off of us in the morning.  We took pictures.

This day, we also went to Ocean City - just our family and Grandma & Grandpa.  It has changed a bit.  We rented this bicycle carriage, where the four adults pedaled while the kids sat (although they took turns, too), and pedaled most of the way down the boardwalk and back - it sure beat walking!

Lots of shops were closed for the season.  We passed some sand art.

After we returned the bike, we had lunch and walked along the beach and into the waves.  One of the waves sucked J down with it.  Poor guy - I watched him struggle and lose his balance.  We played in the waves, and then walked back to the parking lot, rinsed off the sand and loaded back up into our car.

We met up with the cousins at the Assateague Island visitor center, and watched a movie about the horses.  We learned that the stallions are aggressive with each other and have "battle scars."  J still likes to talk about the battle scars.  Also learned that they give the female horses a shot to prevent them from getting pregnant but once to keep the numbers down and extend the mares' lives.  We had a spaghetti dinner, and the kids told ghost stories by firelight and ate more marshmallows.  J decided he likes to light them on fire!  One after another.

Day 8

Benji and I decided to take Grandma & Grandpa up on their offer to host the older kids and bring them home for us (I think they initially offered - or did we just dump the kids on them??).  We took down our tent (kind of funny, because it kept sprinkling on and off - so we kept laying stuff out to dry and then running to get it out of the sprinkles).  We took T with us, and headed back through Katherine & Justin's to get a hot shower, and made it as far as Emporia, Virginia before T started to get really fussy, and we got a hotel room for the night.

Day 9

We made a stop at Town Creek Indian Mound on our way home, because I enjoy learning about Native Americans, and it was basically en route.  They had a self-guided tour of the archaeological site, and some recreated huts, including a ceremonial center on top of a manmade hill.  I think T really enjoyed the break from his car seat.

We had dinner in Atlanta with another high school friend of Benji's and her family.  It was dark when we got home, but we made it home in not too long.  E & J got home two days later.

E:  We had lots and lots of fun and at night, sometimes, we told ghost stories (even though it was not Halloween).  One night, Aunt Katherine made chicken noodle soup, and I don't like chicken noodle soup, so I barely ate it.  We went to a kind-of-little-village-place.  J found a penny and a dime.  I had the dime.  While we were going our way to the car, I saw an old man in a wheelchair, and I wanted to give him my dime.  I was a little shy, but I did it.  There was a surprise.  We saw Disney on Ice!  It was so much FUN!  We even had cotton candy and it was delicious.  We even got little Frozen wand-thingies.  When you press the button, it spins.  J got an Olaf one, and I got an Elsa-and-Anna one (in a heart).  It was so beautiful.  We saw lots of Disney characters skating on ice - even some little kids were skating.  After the three days were up with our cousins, K & E, we went to Assateague Island.  It was amazing.  There were beaches, and oceans, and I loved it!  And Alex & Vickie came, and Grandma and Grandpa, and both everyone except us and some of the people were in RVs.  We went to the beaches a couple of times.  We had so so SO MUCH FUN!  Two or one time, we slept in Alex & Vicki's RV (J: you mean travel trailer).

What did you like on the trip?

J:  The ghost stories and the s'mores.  The ghost stories kind of scared K, so she couldn't hear the ghost story I was telling.  When we were on Assateague, well, then, we got to go on a hike and I had so so so so so much fun.  When we got back, we came a different way.  Then, when we got back, I really loved the trip.  So, then we were in Grandma and Grandpa's RV, when Mom & Dad left, and we wanted to stay.  So we went in the RV, and we slept in the RV.  Then we liked the trip.  Then we did like the trip so much.  Then we wanted to stay when they gone.  So we stayed.  And I liked it so so so so much.  Then I remember when the marsh got deeper so it moved closer to the tent.

Five Things for Friday

1.  Seminary
I forgot to mention that Benji got a new calling last month - to be a stake seminary teacher.  It is a stake calling because the classes are usually split by high schools, not by wards, so there is some overlap between wards.  Since a high councilman set up the meeting to extend the calling, we went through the stake callings directory to speculate what it might be.  We had decided it must be the stake young men's presidency, since there was an opening.  Surprise!  Seminary Teacher!!  Oh - and by the way, it had started the preceding week!  Be there at 6am tomorrow for a week of observation!  It was very unexpected, but not completely unwelcome.  Our family has gone through an adjustment to accommodate the requirements for the calling.  The biggest thing is bedtime.  The kids are ready for bed around 8pm.  On school nights, Benji usually has his light out around 9pm.  We have been getting up earlier.  It's kind of funny - Benji admitted to me that he had been praying for better scripture studying.  I confessed I had been praying to wake up earlier - have I mentioned that I've always wanted to be a morning person?  Well, we each have the opportunities now!  I am really excited for Benji's calling.  I am trying not to feel a little left out, in fact.  I'm attempting to keep up with the lessons.  I did get to substitute for him the other day when he had to work late, and get a taste for it.  Fun times.  T woke up almost right after I left ... so I'm not sure how worthwhile it was.  T was back asleep by the time I got home, though.

 2.  Little Samurais
We went to a Samurai exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  Nice museum, by the way - actually fairly kid-friendly!  This was one of our field trips with our field trip group.  We split into groups of about 11 (Benji came too - that was fun), and went on guided tours.  Our tour guide was extremely patient with the children - a grandma.  E told her she liked her necklace, and she said it belonged to her great-grandma!  I think E was the oldest one in our group, and she was able to ask and answer a lot of questions and make comments.  She did so very appropriately, with raising her hand, and patiently waiting.  She had a lot of excitement.  Before we went on the tour, I had the kids practice "soldier arms."  J did so well with not being able to touch things! Here, the kids are trying on a samurai costume.  It's a little big, but a cute photo op.  That is J's "attack" pose.

3.  Freedom in the parked car
If you ever wondered what T would do if he got to roam loose in the car ... well, first, he sat in E's seat and viewed the world from there.  Second, he sat in J's seat and viewed the world from there.  Third, he sat in the driver's seat, and viewed the world from there.  Ever learning, ever experiencing, that one.

4.  Zoo School Part 2
E's turn to explore the zoo with Mom and T, while J attended a fun explorer class at the zoo.  She makes a good lion!

5.  Raindrop Plop
I recently bought the children raincoats (for all 3), and boots and umbrellas (just for the older two).  They are so proud of their new gear.  They've already broken both umbrellas.  At first, I tried to counsel them to stop playing with them, to hang them on the hooks by the back door.  Don't do that; it might break.  Then, I decided it was futile, and it didn't matter if they broke them, because it wasn't like I had to buy them new ones.  Ay caramba.  Maybe they will learn a lesson.  So today (Friday), we had our first big downpour since they got their raingear.  Actually, two big downpours.  They were so DELIGHTED to go splashing outside and down the street.  E says they pretended our driveway was a river.  They even filled their boots with water with all the splashing.  So ... I'm not sure how effective the gear is ... but it was worth it just to see their delight.

Five Things for Friday

1.  Road Trip for Campers

On Labor Day, we had lunch with Grandma & Grandpa, and then we all piled into Grandpa's car for a road trip to Georgia to check out a camper/trailer they were considering buying.  T got tired along the way, and because he could see me (Benji & I were sitting on either side of him), he was a little fussier than he would have otherwise been.  Still, I like this smile, where he's managing a smile for his momma, even though what he really wanted was cuddles and milk.  Oh, by the way, this boy has bottom molars!  So, currently 10 teeth.

2.  Paper Airplanes
On Tuesday, E decided that they could make some extra money by selling paper airplanes.  She started by making one in every color of construction paper.  Then, she checked out books about making paper airplanes from the library.  We have made every kind in the first book!  The kids are having so much fun with this ... shall I say, "unit study."  No further plans on the selling front, but I've enjoyed watching their creativity and play at work.  Of course, now there are paper airplanes all over the house.  They have flown from standing on top of the table, and from sending them down the stairs.  They have played games where they try to hit each other, or see whose can go farther, or which type plane goes farther.

3.  Tacky
Yes, I showed my children the video to one of Weird Al's latest parodies, "Tacky" (view here).  (Also showed them "Foil" (here) which they've almost memorized - or at least they've memorized the line "In case an alien is inclined/ To probe your butt or read your mind."  I've heard that one more than I care).  E asked what "tacky" means, and explaining, that it has two meanings - first, it can mean clothes that are very bright and/or don't look well together and second, it can mean people who do things without thinking of others' feelings or whether it's appropriate.  Then, E & J decided to make a game out of it, by taking turns finding the tackiest outfits, and posing for the camera.  :)

4.  Zoo School
We enjoyed our first visit to the Birmingham Zoo!  E participated in a day at "Homeschool Academy" and the boys and I began exploring the zoo.  One of the fun things at the zoo is that there is a flock of guineas that roam free.  T also got a chance to get out of the stroller, and enjoyed playing and walking through the Primates building (air conditioned - perhaps my favorite exhibit).

5.  Gymnastics
We decided to enroll E & J in gymnastics again this year.  We found a gym that is offering classes for homeschoolers - so we can add it to our daytime schedule, and don't have to drive during rush hour (it's that bad).  The kids both seemed to really enjoy it so far.  I had a good feeling when talking to the staff over the phone.  Yay for another physical outlet!  :)  In case you can't tell, E is flipping on the bar in the top picture, and J is skipping.  The picture quality isn't great from the observation room.  With gymnastics, I think we've finished all the regular, scheduled activities we are going to do this year (some zoo, some science center, some state park, and various field trips).  I think it will be a good balance of being home and being about.