Happy Earth Day!

Xander has really been into Earth Day since he learned about it last year in preschool. He was distraught last year on vacation when we were eating breakfast at our hotel one day. He noticed the cups had triangles on them and everyone was throwing them in the trash instead of recycling them. How excited we were when we just stayed at the Hampton a few weeks back and found that this particular location was using all biodegradable products in the breakfast room.

I was a little busy with the birthday parties this year to work on any fabulous Earth Day projects, but we did do a few things over the past week in recognition of the occasion. The first thing we did was take a walk and collect trash from the common areas. It was actually my attempt at getting Xander to take a walk. Who knew that offering up the opportunity to pick up other people's crap was more enticing than just walking for fun?

Not only did they fight about who got to each piece of trash first, but they keep asking when we can go find more trash. Huh?

We also ate sandwiches in the shape of flowers. This was Jordis' idea after seeing it in the Princess and the Frog cookbook my dad and step-mom got her for her birthday.

Last night Jason had to work second shift so I took the kids to Inniswood. This is a park where Jason and I had our engagement pictures taken and it's much closer to our old house, which is why we don't visit more often. But we should because it's absolutely gorgeous there. The kids both got digital cameras for their birthdays so I thought they'd enjoy using them to photograph the flowers. In the meantime I was able to take some pictures of my own.

Musical Moments

The kids felt tortured had the opportunity to go to two concerts this past week. On Sunday night after Jason's softball game we took a picnic to Alum Creek Park in Westerville to listen to British Invasion. We first heard them last summer at the balloon show we went to where Jordis was really showing off her far out dance moves. It was a nice night and we thought the kids would have fun. They complained the whole way there but once we got some food in them and it was time to leave, they decided that they were having a good time.

On Thursday night Jason had to work so my mom accompanied the kids and me to Gallant Woods Preserve to listen to some steel drum music.

Xander wasn't keen on this event, either, but we did the best we could. BaDee tried to engage the kids in some dancing and we also let them take turns using the camera.


We also took them on a walk through one of the paths.


Since we had to park across the street we also got shuttled back and forth on a little hayride, which the kids loved.

Along the way we saw a deer and they also liked this windmill.


A trip to the library netted the kids some books about bears and sharks, and movies about manta-rays and crocodiles. They also painted birdhouses.

Can't to see what this week holds.

Is it July already?

Last week went by really quickly. It started with a lovely evening at my aunt and uncle's house. They usually host a family cookout two times each summer and the kids love it because they get to play with their cousins and we let them eat junk. The weather was great and we stayed until dark.

And what color do popsicles make YOUR tongue?

We walked to our neighborhood pond one day to feed the ducks. The kids especially like it if there are duck babies. Xander also found some pinecones to bring home.

The rest of the week I forgot to take pictures. But we went on a play date with our moms group, where Jordis ran into another girl, then fell and hit her head on the concrete. Luckily no stitches but some lovely scrapes on her forehead and eyelid. We also went on a picnic dinner with my friend Catherine and her boys one night. With jackets on, mind you. It was definitely not warm enough to use the pool last week, and I loved it. We even found some time where Jason and his mom were both not working at the same time, so we went to visit his parents for a few hours. It was a busy week, the kids definitely wore me out.

Unbridled Laughter

So not much is going on around here this week. The fridge is fixed and we have groceries, so that's nice. I have a cold which shouldn't be a shock to anyone who talks to me on a regular basis. April is the only month so far this year where I haven't been sick, so it was to be expected. The hiatus couldn't last forever.

The past few days have been pretty nice so we've been taking a nightly walk. The path that runs along our subdivision has a little hill and Xander's new thing is to quit pedaling and coast down the hill, laughing all the way. It's the cutest thing, especially when he turns to see if we're watching and almost always crashes. We decided that little laugh won't last forever, so today Jason went ahead a bit so he could tape him on his jaunt down the path.




That wasn't Xan's only fun today. Our neighbors went away for a few days so we're checking on their new puppy for them. Xander went with me both times I checked on him today but little Tango just wouldn't be still long enough for me to get a good picture of the two of them together. He's such a cute little guy, a coton de tulear, and I don't think he even weighs 10 pounds. Xander likes to get the dog to chase him but then he gets mad when he actually does it.



Jordis isn't as easily amused. She had her one-year follow-up today to check on the tubes in her ears. The one in her left ear has fallen out but the doctor said he's not concerned about it unless she gets fluid in there. So hopefully she'll be good where that's concerned.

This is about as much fun as she could muster for tonight's photo taking. She's not quite the poser that Xander is. Last night there were eight tiny ducks in the pond and I think she assumed we got her out of the stroller to look at ducks again, so I'm sure she was a little ticked that we threw her down by the tree and tried to get her to smile. She's not one to oblige to our requests for congeniality anyway, so as long as she sat still I was okay. Can't be too choosey when it comes to her.