Star Spangled Water Play

We had some people from our playgroup over for a Pre-July 4th party and Seth had so much fun. He loves having company and had a blast in the baby pool and wiggle sprinkler.

Ebay Item of the Week

Tiger Cub Patch and Arrow Points
Paid - Pennies
Sold For - $18.35

Kimya

I just heard that one of the Gorillas at Riverbanks Zoo, Kimya, was found dead today. The gorillas are our favorites and I'm so sad to hear about this! These pictures were taken a month ago.

Playing "Animals"

One of Seth's favorite games to play right now is "Animals." He came up with this all on his own and could play it on end. He takes the binoculars - which are really two Pop-Ons blocks put together - and looks through them until he spots an animal. Then, he hands the binoculars to me and I see it too. He reaches out and gets the imaginary animal to bring in for observation. We look each animal over, feed it, give it medical treatment and then return it to a sanctuary. The animals always vary and I love to see what he comes up with. Today he saw, among others, an Orca, a Mongoose, a frog and Condor.

Just Peachy!

Cowboy Eggs

Seth and I were looking through a kids cookbook the other day and he just had to make this as soon as he saw it. I have seen this called many other names but we grew up calling it a cowboy egg, so I think we'll carry on the name. (We weren't as fancy back then, with the cookie cutters. We just tore out the center of the bread.) It's so easy! Here is what we did:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Spread margarine on a piece of wheat bread.
• Cut the center out with a medium cookie cutter.
• Crack egg into center of bread.
• Bake until egg is firm.

This method worked great but I think next time we'll do it the way my dad always did - on the stove top!

Brotherly Love

VBS

Seth has been attending Vacation Bible School at the church where my dear friend, Melissa, is the youth director. He has been learning songs, stories and doing lots of fun crafts. I have great VBS memories as a child and I'm glad Seth is making similar memories!

Ebay Item of the Week

VTECH Reading Pen
Paid - $.44
Sold For - $20.50

Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day! Since we were in Charlotte last weekend we decided to stay home this weekend. We did miss seeing Dad. I think this may be the first Father's Day I haven't been home! Seth and I snuck out of the house early and surprised Mark with Starbucks.Seth loved giving Mark all of the gifts he made including a step stool,

a card,
and the mug he painted at the Mad Platter.
We met up with Stacy, Bobby and Trey to take Papa R to lunch at Vegetable Medley.



When we got home it was pouring rain but it was warm with no thunder or lightening. What a rare combination. There was a river running down the street and I had to convince Seth to go play in it with me. At first he was very leery but once we started splashing around he had a blast!
We spent a quiet and relaxing afternoon at home. It was nice just to stay in and spend time as a family!

Sleepy Do!

No matter how big Seth gets, the sight of him sleeping peacefully will always take my breath away!

Happy Father's Day!

A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...

- Unknown

Sometimes the moms get the credit for taking care of the kids and nurturing the family. The moms couldn't do it without the love and strength of the fathers. Happy Father's Day Mark! Thanks for the best gift I have ever received. I can't imagine a life without our family. You are a great dad and we love you so much! And Happy Father's Day Dad! You always found a way to make childhood magical and fun! Hooray for all of the great dads I know!

Swimming at Mimi's and Papa George's Father's Day

We went swimming and had a Father's Day dinner for Papa George tonight. They just had a new liner put in so it was the first swim of the season. We were afraid the pool would be cold since it just got filled but the water was perfect. Stacey mad delicious homemade pizza and we had a great time. I don't know how the heck no pictures were taken but it looked kinda like this:

Oh my!

We have been so busy I haven't been able to blog! I'll attempt to catch us up now!

UPDATE: Phew!

Happy Birthday Papa!

You're a good egg!

Cute Quotes

Here are some of the funny things Seth has said lately:

"I think it's going to rain today. I can feel it in my whole body."

S: I'm feeling a little sick.
M: What hurts"
S: My nasal cavity.

Seth was playing a computer game with Mimi where you had to rescue animals from a building that was on fire. Something went wrong with the game and they couldn't continue. Defeated and deflated, Seth said, "Well I guess they're gonna have to burn."

Seth often refers to Mark as "our dad".

Seth and I were putting some old clothes away for Trey and Chase. He was incensed that nothing was for Sophia. Then, he pulled out this little blanket and said,"Well can we at least give her this? It's got a heart on it. Everyone likes hearts."

One day we were leaving to go somewhere and Seth wanted to take Mark's car. I wasn't sure why, but he clarified for me..."so we can listen to Pink."

Seth often wakes up from dreaming in the night. The other night he insisted that there were lobsters on his window sill. He kept pointing and saying that they were right there. He finally woke up enough to realize that there was nothing where he was pointing and said that they moved - they were there a minute ago.

The Native American Icon - "Hocapontas"

Sometimes when Seth says something that I'm surprised he knows about, I'll ask him where he heard it. Sometimes he'll have a source but other times he'll say he heard it "inside my mouth" or "just from my own head".

Ebay Item of the Week

Nintendo DS Cooking Mama 2 Game
Paid - $.01
Sold for - $13.52

Wicked Awesome

Mom, Dana and I had a blast at Wicked! We had gotten tickets for Mom for Mother's Day and were really excited. I didn't get any pics because photography is prohibited in the auditorium, but the show was amazing! That was the first show I'd seen in a really long time and I had forgotten how much I enjoy the theatre.

Party Time

We had lots of fun in Charlotte celebrating Dana & Dad's birthdays - along with Father's Day.
Precious Love

Seth & Uncle Mingo hanging out in the man cave.

Shiny Happy People

The pool felt great and Seth and Molly had no fear jumping off the diving board. (It was about 3 feet off the water!)

Dan just had a pacemaker put in last week and was tired but doing well.

Grill master or Goofball? You be the judge.

Seth and Molly had so much fun playing with Lilly.

Happy Birthday Geminis!

Feejers - and the nicknames just keep on comin'!