The First Field Trip

Erin had her first field trip this morning. Her class went to the local apple orchard to learn about apples. Jeffrey and I tagged along for fun. They've been learning about apples this week, focusing on taste and color and the letter "A". Today they got to see one cut apart and see them on the trees. They even had the chance to pick some.

When we got there Erin sat with her class for a story about apple picking. Then they got to see an apple cut up and talk about the tastes, colors, textures and sounds of the apple (they've also been studying the senses). After that the class got a hayride. Erin sat way in back with a couple of friends while Jeffrey and I sat in the middle. I could see her giggling a little with the "friends" she was sitting with.

After the hayride we went apple picking. The orchard provided each of us with a bag (mommy and Jeffrey got one too) for picking apples. We started with granny smiths as Erin likes the sour apples. Then we moved over to the golden delicious -- which stood up quite well to their name. Yummy. Erin filled all 3 bags with golden delicious apples.

When we were done picking apples, both kiddos chose a small pumpkin out of the "patch" and we went to the picnic tables for our lunch. They each got a turn to stick their heads in a great big cut out apple to be the worm. On the way out I nabbed a 1/2 gallon of cider, Jeffrey snatched one extra apple for the ride home. By the time we were half way home the back seat was silent as both Erin and Jeff were sound asleep, worn out from their busy morning at the apple farm.

Out and About in Ohio

While we were in Ohio for the wedding we got some out and about time with Noni and Grandpa. We got to drive all around where they grew up and see the house were Noni and Oma lived for a long time and the farm where Grandpa grew up.

Mommy had a geocache she wanted to check out so we visited a restaurant that had a duck pond and swings and even a corn maze at it. Both kids had a blast feeding the ducks with Noni and Grandpa. Lemme tell you these are some well fed ducks. Also well trained. They would come pretty close to eating right out of your hand. Jeffrey thought the ducks were just the coolest thing, but he didn't understand why they wouldn't stay still so he could pet them. Possibly it could have something to do with his need to charge at them at the same time. It is a miracle that Jeffrey didn't end up in the middle of the duck pond at one point.

After feeding the ducks for a while we went exploring in the corn maze. I've never been in one before and it was really pretty cool. The stalks are quite tall and you really can get "lost." Erin led us around. At first Jeffrey was a little uneasy but he relaxed enough to have some fun exploring in it. We got deep enough in that mommy ended up turning on the GPS that pointed to the geocache so we would know which way to turn to get back out. After that the kids ran around in the little hay-bale maze that was set up. Both of them were able to figure out how to navigate it from beginning to end.

Sunday morning before we had to leave back to Virginia we drove around the area where grandpa grew up. There are quite a lot of Amish families in this area of Ohio and the kids made a game of looking for the horse carriages. They'd also keep looking out their windows for animals...cows and horses and a few sheep mostly. Jeffrey also announced when he'd see "Field Corn". At one point there were some young cows near the front of the fence so we stopped the car and got out so the kids could get a little closer to the cows. That seems to have been the highlight of the morning.

We had beautiful weather the entire time we were in Ohio and were very glad to get some time to for Noni and Grandpa to share all their memories of the area.

Cousin Jared's Wedding

We had a fun time in Ohio at Cousin Jared's wedding. Erin talked and talked about it on the drive up because she just couldn't wait to dance. It was great to see all the extended family again. Both Erin and Jeffrey got to meet their 2nd cousins (at least I think that's what they are....mommy's cousins kids). Jeffrey and Jackson hit it off really quickly - too bad they live in South Carolina. Erin spent some time dancing with her cousin Trei and helping Cousin Jamie chase after him.

The wedding was nice. Jeffrey even sat through most of it, snuggled with grandpa. There was even a fire truck outside that they got to stand on. At the reception all Erin could think of was dancing, dancing and more dancing. Jeffrey and Jackson played with the little bell favors to get Jared and Tiffany to kiss. All in all it was a great time.

Checking out Uncle Les's New Fire Truck

Trying to Blow Some Bubbles

Dancing Queen

The Things They Pick Up On

Sometimes I'm amazed at the things kids pick up on and how much they learn just from watching and absorbing. Even when you don't think they're paying a lick of attention.

So this morning Jeffrey and I were driving into gymnastics after dropping Erin off at school. The CD player in the Sentra is a little wacky and didn't want to work this morning so I was listening to some talk radio and Jeff was looking out the window. Every once in a while he'd shout out something cool that he could see....."Ice Cream Truck" (really a mail truck), "Trees", "School Bus", "Fire Truck." Then he started humming a little song.

He got quiet for a while and looked out the window. Then all of a sudden I heard clear as day,

Cut, Cut, Cut, Cut.......Everybody Cut Footloose

Now that song has been a staple in our household for the last month. Erin loves listening to the CD from the musical revue (so much it's starting to scratch). And Footloose was clearly her favorite song which she'd make me repeat over and over again. BUT, I never realized Jeff was picking up on it. And the music wasn't playing anywhere except inside his head.

At the next stop light Jeff was still singing it. I was cracking up in the front seat and looked back to give him a smile. To my amazement he was not only singing the words, but doing the ending point forward as he'd say "Footloose". Luckily I was at a light or I might have driven off the road laughing.

Needless to say I'm sure he'll never do it again and certainly not for a video camera. But I'll always be able to remember it and how proud he was of his accomplishment.

Silly Boy

Just wanted to take a quick moment to share a silly picture of Jeffrey, especially since I've had several recent pictures of Erin.

Check out this Get-up

Fingerpainting Fun

A Row of Musical Cars

Mommy and Jeffrey's First Week of Mornings

This was mommy and Jeffrey's first week of mornings together. I've been looking forward to having some special Jeffrey time and he really seems to thrive on it. But when Erin's home that time is difficult to find. So while Erin's been at school this week (having a blast, making a new best friend, carrying her teddy bear everywhere she goes) Jeffrey and I have been having our own little special week.

Jeff came with me on Monday to drop Erin off. He was devastated when he realized that he was NOT going to get to stay at school. He threw an all out fit when I walked out the door with him. When he realized he wasn't going to get to play on the playground there either (it's just for the preschool) he got even more upset. Every morning he wants to go with Erin to school and the tease of Monday morning was just too much. So after dropping Erin off we went to the County Park and played on the playground there. We swang together in swings, climbed up the rock climbing wall, went down the slides and he even served me Ice Cream. It was a great bonding time with him.

On Wednesday Tom was working from home so Jeff didn't have to come to school to drop off Erin. After dropping Erin off, I swung back and picked Jeff up for gymnastics class. This is the same class that he and Erin did together last spring. It's a lot of "free play" and running around. He played with the hoops and climbed over the mats. The coach set up a knock down the "cheese" mat game and Jeffrey had a blast with that. He got to stand back and charge full force at a big wedge shaped mat to knock it down. Super fun. He did try the balance beam once and swing on the bar also. He's more into the running and climbing though, and really fights anything structured in class. I'm hoping that by the end of the session he'll feel better about the structure. After class we got to spend some more playground time outside before we had to go pick up Erin. I believe that if Jeffrey were allowed to swing all day, he would.

This morning we joined a little play group with a neighbor up the street. He's hung out with her daughter before and they play fairly well together. He had a blast this morning. There were 4 kids, Jeff being the oldest, only boy, and certainly the biggest. I was amazed at how well he played though. At home he's so rough and tumble and NOT gentle with toys or people. Several times I saw him sitting with Shelby (the girl he's most comfortable with) playing calmly together. He also got her involved in a chase/run in a circle game that she had a blast with. It really was great to see him play together with the kids. At their ages, from about 18 months to Jeff they rarely play together and he certainly made the effort to play with others. Did pretty well at sharing too and was amazingly gentle - well for Jeffrey at least.

So while Erin's been at school Jeff and I have had a busy week. He's had a blast. I certainly hope we get to keep these mornings as special Mommy-Jeffrey time because it's really been great.

First Visit to the Eye Dr.

Well Erin had her fist visit to the eye doctor this afternoon. Back in May, her pediatrician did a screening and the nurse reported that Erin was clearly guessing on part of the screening. Seeing that Tom and I both have horrid vision, her Ped. suggested we take her to an eye doctor for a professional screening.

So I returned home and called our eye doctors (whom Tom and I both adore). I was informed that they don't see anyone under 6, but there was a Pediatric Optician in town. I called and made an appointment. The day before the appointment they called our Pediatrician to get Erin's medical records I assume. We discovered this day that they would NOT take our insurance, and it was going to cost much more than I had anticipated to get her eyes screened. The nurse at our Dr.s office went to bat and got it cleared for us to see the Pediatric Optician, but we were still informed that our insurance would only cover the appointment if they found a medical problem with Erin. I was afraid to take that risk so never made another appointment.

Fast forward to the end of the summer. I have my annual eye appointment and bring Erin along. She sits quietly and looks at a book while I'm there. I know that the Dr. has a child Erin's age so I ask her what she'd recommend and she suggested bringing Erin into her. This was just what I had hoped and the reason Erin came along to my appointment rather than getting to stay at home and watch a movie with Jeffrey.

So today we had our appointment. I explained to Erin where we would be going and that she would be able to sit in the cool big chair like mommy did. She was so good with the Dr. They were even able to get the puff test done on her. She sat in the chair like a champ and read off numbers and shapes just fine. The Dr. even did the "is it better on 1 or 2" test - personally I hate that test as 1/2 the time I don't see a difference. I sat there hoping that Erin wasn't just guessing. When she finished the Dr. said her eyes are fine and that every answer that Erin gave made perfect sense...it was clear she wasn't guessing at all.

I'm glad we went in and also very glad that Erin's eyes are fine right now. I expect that by middle school she'll be in glasses like mommy and daddy but for now no glasses for her. We finished off the afternoon with a special trip to Maggie Moos (like Coldstone Creamery) where Erin picked pink strawberry ice cream with rainbow sprinkles mixed in. And for now we are done with the Erin and the vision screening saga that has been going on here at the house all summer.

First Day of School

Erin has been counting down her sleeps until the first day of school for the past few weeks. She was so excited this morning to wake up and have her first day of school. We got her backpack a few weeks ago - and it's huge on her, but totally adorable. So we got up and had a good breakfast before school. She picked out what she wanted to wear and looked cute as a button.

Mommy drove Erin to school. As we were arriving in the parking lot she chirped up from the back seat...."Thank you for driving me to school mommy." So sweet and innocent like I had done the most special thing ever. Then when I asked if I could walk her in (we're actually required to) she said, "Thank you for walking me into school." She was excited but I could hear a little caution in her voice.

Putting on her backpack while getting out of the car

All that was gone once we walked in the door. She headed straight for her teacher so she could show off her Tinkerbell backpack. Her teacher showed her where to put it and then led her to the "sign-in" table where the kids practice writing their name and then put it up on a "survey" board. Today's question was "Are you a boy or a girl." Erin clearly informed the teacher...."I'm a Big girl."


After that she was gone...off exploring the toys and corners of the room. She never even looked back to me. Didn't give me a hug. And I don't think she even realized I had left.


When I went to pick her up they were playing outside. She was patiently waiting her turn for the swing sucking on a Freezer Pop. She was NOT ready to go. Saw me, gave me a little wave and kept on sitting. I let her play another few minutes and then the teacher brought her over.


The review I got from Erin was that they read stories (about a paw -- which I deciphered to be the "Kissing Hand") and an ABC book. They had a snack - crackers, fishies, oranges and juice. They also painted but it wasn't dry enough to bring home. And of course it was a big deal to play outside.


When I got home her backpack had some other information in it. She had made a collage with buttons, and a puzzle with her hand print on it. The envelope for the puzzle had a little poem about you will always remember how small my hand was on my first day of pre-school (it made Mommy a little teary to see it). Turns out Erin will have Show and Tell on Fridays and can bring in anything she wants to share. Next week is Teddy bear week and she can bring her teddy bear with her to school each day. Week after that we get a trip to the apple orchard.


She was so excited about everything. I'm very glad she had a great time. I hope she'll be able to make some new friends in time. The very first thing she said when we got home was...."How many more sleeps until I can go back to school?"

Awesome Picture to Share

We were hanging out with the gang on Monday and a friend was playing with his camera snapping pictures of the kiddos. Those of you who have tried to take a picture of Erin recently realize how impossible it is to get a good posed picture of her because of the "cheese" smile and squinty eyes. So this picture is not posed at all. She just happened to glance over at her "Uncle John" at the exact right moment that he was ready to take the shot. I just Love, love, love it. Thanks for sharing "Uncle" John.