Taking Center Stage

This year, Erin was old enough to compete in our local C'ville Jr. Idol competition.  She's performed before, but not in the judged category.  She admitted that this year she was really nervous, but mommy couldn't tell.  Such a brave little girl.

Mommy does lose her mommy card a bit this weekend though.  I hardly got any pictures at all and NO video of her second song.  The video setting on my camera died on Friday night and Noni's didn't work yesterday.  So, hopefully someone does have a video of her beautiful singing from yesterday, but you'll have to wait a bit to see it while I hunt it down.

In the meantime, here's the clip of Erin's song from Friday night.  She sang the "Wizard and I" from Wicked.  One of her favorite songs.  There's lots of words to get out and she did awesome.

Also, here is the link to a piece by the local news station.  Tom has a quick interview, and there are some clips of Erin in the group numbers and even a few glimpses of Jeffrey.

Black Box Celebrates 25 Years

Mommy is super, duper proud of her girl for being so brave.  Love my sweetie.

Buttercup the Bike

Erin's bike was way to small.  She got it when she was 5, and has finally outgrown it.  We've passed it down to a great friend who I'm sure will love it.  So, today at the consignment shop, Erin got a new-to-her bike.  The kicker -- no training wheels.  Erin has been talking about taking her training wheels off all summer.  She even tried with Grandpa, but they couldn't quite get it worked out, so back on they went.  This afternoon mommy returned with a great red and white bike -- named Buttercup.  Erin was anxious and ready to give her a try.

We started off slowly, but gained a bit of confidence quickly.  After a few minor tips, we took a break and headed inside.  Forty minutes later we were back on the bike.  This time mommy let go, and Erin rode on her own all the way to the bridge.  Way to go girl.  She couldn't wait to show her daddy when he got home.

After dinner we went back out for a few more runs down the road.  She grew more and more comfortable with each attempt.  She is so proud of being able to "almost" ride her bike on her own.  Give her a week and she'll be tooling around the neighborhood annoying all the neighbors!!

Good Old Fashioned Home Cooking!!

And not by me!

mmmmmm....frosting

Over the summer both kids have taken a real interest in helping cook.  They've even taken the initiative to help plan out a few meals on their own.  We love that the kids are excited about getting their hands into the kitchen activities.

A few of the projects they undertook:

Erin and I arrived home from a later rehearsal to find Jeffrey covered in flour.  He and Tom had decided to make a carrot cake.  Tom offered up the choice to make brownies or cookies.  Jeffrey got into an Alton Brown cook book and pointed at the carrot cake.  "I want to make that!"  And so off they went to the grocery store to get everything needed to make carrot cake.

So Proud of His Carrot Cake

The kids helped make a "Grape Gazpacho".  The big aspect of this project was that both kids learned some simple knife skills.  They were given sharp paring knives.  Taught to hold and cut.  And then given lots of veggies and fruits to chop up.  While the final result was less than "tasty" for the kids they really had a ton of fun cutting everything up.

While visiting Noni, they all went to a close-out book sale.  Erin picked out 3 cookbooks from the children's section.  She has really enjoyed them.  The recipes are very simple, and use mostly already prepared foods.  No matter, it's gotten her into the kitchen and playing with cooking.  One evening Erin decided to make "Princess Fairy Wands" (white chocolate covered pretzels).  They were really good, and absolutely adorable.

Fun Dessert

While visiting Uncle Gary and Aunt Suzy, the kids helped daddy and Uncle Gary make meatballs for dinner. They rolled them and then dredged them in breadcrumbs.  They wanted to put on a good show for Uncle Gary and certainly did.

See How It's Done Uncle Gary?

A few weeks ago, Jeffrey came downstairs and asked if we could make a special dinner for daddy.  "Of course" was the answer.  So we looked through the cookbooks and he picked out a "Meatball and Biscuit Skewer".  And they were really good.  He did almost all of the work.  He helped cut the biscuits and peppers and put all the ingredients onto the skewer.  This dinner was such a big deal for Jeffrey, and he really enjoyed putting it all together for his daddy.

See What I Made For You Daddy!!

Add to these projects other helpful times flipping pancakes, kneading bread, measuring flour....it's been a very fun summer in the kitchen.

End of Summer Fun

The end of summer certainly got away from us.  Both kids got to spend a week with each set of grandparents.  This was super special time for them and they absolutely LOVED their weeks at "Camp Grandma" and "Camp Noni".  We snuck in a few more trips to King's Dominion.  The kids discovered the wave pool at the water park, and could have called that home if I'd let them.  Noni also came down here for a visit and we did some sewing and went on a great little hike in the mountains.

Now we're back at school.  Both kids were ready and heaven knows Mommy was.  Now we just need to get used to waking at 6:45 again.  Yawn...

So here are a few pictures of the rest of our summer fun.

Who doesn't like to sit in a bucket of water?

Attacking the fountain

Visiting Uncle Gary and Aunt Suzy in Baltimore

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum is COOL

Shenandoah Hiking With Noni

He Still Tries To Kiss Her 

The same rock -- September 2006 -- how they've grown!!!

Happy 4th

Around here the 4th of July turns into a week-long celebration.  We've got 2 summer cook-out parties, then hanging out at home with the town parade on the 4th.  Add in a pool party with some friends and it makes for a week full of fun.  Since it was so hot this year every event included cooling off with water and lots of running around in bathing suits.

The actual 4th turned into a rainy, dreary evening so we didn't get to see any fireworks that night.  But, our friend has a big crab cookout the Saturday after the 4th.  This year he went all out with the fireworks and shot off some beauties.  So while we missed out earlier in the week, we caught some awesome ones that night.

So rather than swamp you with a bunch of pictures from the week, here's a little video of our summer 4th celebrations.

Happy 4th!

Getting Punchy

Jeffrey has recently become obsessed with the Punch Buggy game.  I'm sure you're familiar with it.  You keep your eyes out for those cute little cars which seem to dot the landscape around here.  Once you've spotted said vehicle you shout "Punch Buggy Red (or yellow, blue, black, silver etc...) No Punch Backs!"

Jeff has always had an eye for cars.  He will see a certain car that one of his friends rides in and ask me "Is that Owen?"  or "Look, there's our neighbor."  So this game is right up his alley.  Since he sits behind the driver I'm safe from the actual punch and generally receive a kick to the back of the seat.

He has also memorized where each of the local "bugs" hangs out per se.  There's 2 that are parked within a mile of the house, so I'm guaranteed 2 kicks each time we go out.  A red one that tends to be parked in the school parking lot.  The bank near the gym?  There's a yellow one there.

The rules are constantly changing.  It started as more of a tag game.  If he got me, then it was my turn to get him back with the next car.  But since sometimes it took mommy a while, and I'd miss the one at the bank.  But if I get him twice in a row, well that's not fair.  I keep threatening to write up rules and post them on the back of the headrests.

But rather than having kids with their heads buried in their DSs I now have a family that's looking out the window.  Laughing and giggling.  And just being silly.  So look out next time you're out and about.  Jeff might just get you with a

Punch Buggy Green No Punch Backs

Birthday Weekend

For my birthday weekend we got to spend it as a family with my folks near DC.  Friday, my actual birthday, we headed to King's Dominion.  This is the first year we've gotten season tickets and they've been absolutely worth it.  I put down "King's Dominion" on the calendar for my birthday way back in April.  Tom took the day off and we got there nice and early.  Since the park has an attached water park we planned the morning for rides and the afternoon for the water.  It worked out perfectly.  We all got to spend some time on our favorite rides and then splash around in the water.

A few memorable moments from the day:

• Riding the Drop Zone tower with Tom and Erin
• Watching Erin rider her favorite roller coaster with Tom
• Chasing after Jeffrey around the lazy river when he decided to go around a 2nd time and we all got out.
• Double tube water slides with Erin
• Watching Jeffrey dance in the rain during an afternoon shower
• Taking Jeffrey to the top of their observation tower (the Eiffel tower) even though it's terrifying to me.
• Having Tom and the kids sing Happy Birthday to me out front of the park

Erin's Favorite Ride -- the Anaconda

Proof I went to the top and that he has no fear of it.

We left the park and headed to DC.  It was dusk and the sunset was just stunning.  The kids fell asleep in the car and Tom and I chatted together for the drive.  Once in DC we celebrated my birthday with my folks and Oma and then took our sleepy heads to bed.

That does NOT look comfortable

Erin's typical way of storing her clothes.

Saturday morning Tom and Jeff went on a walk and Noni took Erin shopping for clothes.  It was a big deal to Erin that just she and her Noni go shopping together.  I tagged along but busied myself with the women's sundresses (and purchased a completely superfluous cute little number that I have nowhere to wear).  Erin and Noni picked out dresses and outfits and came away with quite a little wardrobe.  And it was just the most adorable thing to watch.  Then when we got home, Erin put on a little show for everyone at the house.

That evening we celebrated birthday and father's day with dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.  Erin ordered her first crab legs and did a great job with them.  Tom, Noni and I enjoyed their steam pots.  After dinner we convinced Oma to take a slow walk with us around the "lake" in the shopping center.  We stumbled across a cupcake shop so had to grab dessert.

Sunday was a laid back day with hanging at the house.  Tom and I took the kids to the local park for a ride on the train and carousel.  Otherwise we played in the back yard.  Grandpa Donuts cooked dinner on the grill and just super yummy.

Big kids get to have fun too

It was just a wonderful weekend with wonderful family.

Fairy Houses

Yesterday, after watching a Tinkerbell movie, Erin came upstairs and announced that she was going to build a fairy house.  She was a little upset because apparently Jeffrey was making fun of her by saying "fairies aren't real."  I could tell it was really bothering her so I encouraged the construction of the fairy house.

She got an old box to start.  Then she decorated it with a bed made of sticks and a bedspread cut from some extra cloth.  Then a table and tablecloth of the same materials.  She drew a clock on the wall.  She very much wanted to put real food inside, but for fear of ants or other critters I encouraged her to use Poly Pocket food.  She made little pillows from cotton balls and sprayed them with body mist to make them smell just right.  Finally she put a bowl for water (but no real water) and some flowers inside the box.

She set the box outside, off the back deck.  She found a stick and drove it into the ground.  She asked me to write "Fairies Welcome" on a flag for the stick.  The fairy house was set.

Brother wasn't done making fun of her, but she didn't let it get to her.  Every 10 minutes she was checking to see if a fairy was there yet.  After an hour or so she switched out the food and flowers because "maybe a fairy would like this better."  She got more and more frustrated as the afternoon wore on.  Maybe a fairy was not going to arrive.  Maybe fairies aren't real.  Maybe the fairy is shy, I explained.  Maybe the fairies are waiting for it to cool off.

Finally she noticed that something had moved inside the house.  Something had shifted.  That was enough.  There was a fairy!!  She was just shy.  Throughout the evening Erin kept changing out the food and flowers.  Happily humming along.

How do I know that there wasn't a little fairy humming along with her.

Meet Emma

Emma the kitten is a wonderful addition to the family.  Erin received Emma as a birthday present.  She found it waiting for her bright and early the morning of her birthday.  She is both playful and snuggly.  And definitely loved.

Erin and Emma spend a lot of time playing and snuggling together.  Sometimes the kids forget that she's a kitten and treat her more like a rag doll, but overall she is treated very well.  She sleeps in Erin's room and it's working out great.  Emma curls up around Erin's head or face and sleeps with her every night.  For a while she was waking Erin very early in the morning, but that seems to be getting better.  And we've talked with Erin about just opening the door for Emma if Emma is really bothering her.

Emma and Drake are working on their relationship.  Emma loves to play and keeps trying to get Drake to play with her.  Not really his thing.  For the first week or so, any time Emma and her little bell arrived on the scene, Drake would run to another floor.  Then he graduated to just moving to another room.  Now the two of them can sometimes inhabit the same room.  Emma is still more playful than Drake would prefer.  So generally he ends up rather cornered and growling at her.  There have been a few rare moments where they have sat in a window together and looked out at the world.

So here are some wonderful pictures of Emma and all the love she receives.