A Zoo Day!

Since the weather was so beautiful on Wednesday, Crystal and I decided to take the kids to the zoo. They were so excited to see the animals and be out in the sunshine. All of the animals were very active. We had a scary experience with one of the apes running up and smacking on the glass. Everyone was wanting a turn in the stroller towards the end of the day as we walked and walked and walked. I don't know how the pioneers walked for thousands of miles. I was exhausted after a day walking around the zoo.

Checking out the meerkats.

The kids were so good to stay right with us and take turns in the stroller. Each of them had a map in hand pointing out where we were and where we needed to go. Michelle and Ciara were so cute walking along holding hands. It was just a really fun and enjoyable day!

Each time we saw an animal statue, all of the kids had to climb on it, hang on it, and pose for a picture. What else are they for?

Ethan, Charles, Michelle, and Ciara all liked the crocodile. "He has lots of big teeth".

Checking out the crocodile!

Charles favorite animal was the elephants. He thought it was pretty cool to watch them take a bath by getting sprayed with the hose. I know what he will be doing this spring when we hook up the hoses. Watch out Michelle!!

What a terrific day we had. Beautiful spring weather in November and great friends!!

A morning with Michelle!

While Charles was at preschool and with the weather so nice, Michelle and I decided to go for a walk. When you go for a walk with Michelle, you go at her pace: SLOW. It is so nice and different from the daily routine. She chattered about the birds, the clouds, the sky, the trees without leaves, the dead grass, and how the flowers had died. We checked out cracks in the sidewalk. We listened to every little noise. It was so much fun. The one thing I thought was true of boys is also true of girls: they are fascinated with sticks. Michelle found this stick at the park. She played with it and walked home with it. She even threw a fit when I told her it could not go in the house. After having a wonderful walk, we came home and had a tea party. Michelle got these new dishes from us for her birthday and we hadn't tried them out yet. We had a tea party that lasted about 45 minutes. We again talked about everything. Oh to be young again and not have to worry about anything but having fun.

It is mornings like these that remind me why I love being a stay at home mom. Who would my kids walk with or have tea parties with? Thank you Michelle for a wonderful morning full of Michelle and mom time!!

Michelle's Birthday Party!

Saturday was Michelle's Birthday party. She decided to go with a "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" party. We did a super sleuth theme. When the kids came in we gave them each a super sleuth badge. Michelle had decided she wanted two games. Why two I don't know.

The first game I took a pan and put about 10 objects on it. I had the kids look at all the objects. Then we covered the objects and I took one off. We then uncovered the objects and the kids had to tell which object was missing.

The second game we played was, of course, a scavenger hunt. Since Michelle and some of the other kids can't read, I used pictures of places in the house as the clues. This is one of the kids favorite games. Even after cake and presents the kids were hiding the clues for each other and still playing.

Michelle and her friends!

Michelle had a great party. It was fun to have all the kids together. She received many nice gifts. For that we are grateful to you all!!

Chuck E. Cheese's

I think we are the craziest parents! Michelle has been having a hard time staying in her own bed at night. At 12:20 every night she would come climb in bed with us. Part of the problem was my fault. It was easier to just put her in bed with us then get up and fight with her to go back in her bed. We finally had enough! To help brake her of the habit we made a chart for her to sleep in her own bed. She got a sticker for her chart each night she slept in her own bed. When her chart was full, the prize was a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's. On Friday, Jack and Charlene came up and we went.

The kids are always so excited. They just run without looking where they are going. It is amazing how a place like this turns good kids into kids with no manners. Thankfully it was not really busy. We had fun!

Even the big kids had fun!

Hammond Candy Factory

On Friday, we picked up Crystal, Ethan, and Ciara and drove up to the Hammond Candy Factory. The give free tours! They also give out lots of free samples!! They make a lot of hard candy and some chocolate. Unfortunately, chocolate was not being made that day.

It was so interesting to watch them pour the ingredients into a large mixer. Then they cooked the candy in these huge vats.

Ciara, Ethan, Michelle, Charles watching the candy process!!

When the candy was done they poured it out on these long metal tables and worked with it. The kids really liked watching them pull the candy and it changing colors. We watched them make candy canes! Then we went and watched how they packaged the candy. The kids thought it was cool!

Michelle Turns 3!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008 was a milestone in our family. Michelle turned 3! It is amazing how fast they grow. Just like many other parents, we still remember the day we found out Michelle was coming to be a part of our family. We can replay in our minds the night she came. For her birthday, we had a little party as a family. She wanted spaghetti and breadsticks for dinner.

Getting ready for presents!

After dinner, we had Michelle open gifts from us, Charles, and a few cards she received in mail.

Opening cards.

Blowing out the candles!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR LITTLE ANGEL!!

Thanks!

It is that time of year when we reflect on our many blessings. This week I am thankful for our many friends. I am grateful that they can count on us in a moments notice. I am glad that others feel comfortable in our home and feel comfortable leaving their children here. I am thankful for the telephone and internet that allows us to stay connected or reconnect with people in our lives. I am thankful for family and friends!

The week was full of other kids coming over to stay while their moms set out to work. It was wonderful to listen to my kids playing with them and having our home filled with laughter, sword fights, little moms tending to their baby dolls, star wars, legos falling on the hardwood, racing feet on the floor, and the quiet of nap time.

Charles, Joey, Michelle, Hailee

Lunchtime!! Michelle, Charles, Alexi, Adam, and Joey

HALLOWEEN!!

It was that day where kids were crazy with anticipation for going trick-or-treating and eating lots of candy. They could not sit still. At the last minute Charles decided he did not want to go out as "Darth Mader" he wanted to be a pirate. Luckily he had been a pirate last year and his costume still fit.

Charles, Tanner, Ciara, Michelle, Tytan, and Ethan

We went over to our friends the Bakers to Trick-or Treat and have dinner. We had a great time with them as we always do. It also made it nice to go out in a group with more adults to help with the kids. I think the kids enjoyed going out with their friends. Charles and Michelle adopted Crystal's parents as their new grandparents. It was cute! All the other kids were calling them grandma and grandpa, so why not join in.

Ethan and Charles

Ciara and Michelle

The kids doing their thing!!

The kids got so much candy I think we'll have enough to get us to Valentine's Day or farther! This is especially true since I am the mother who is mean and only lets the kids have two or three pieces of candy a day. Maybe I can send some to work with Gabe to get rid of it!!