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Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Transit of Venus at the Falls
This week is be too big to put into 1 post. We went to the Falls of the Ohio and Mammoth Cave National park. I got lots of great pictures at both places so I had to break it up!
On Tuesday, after music lessons, we hit up one of our favorite Louisville restaurants "The Irish Rover". They had a surprising affordable children's menu..with meals priced under $3! Zachary loved his grilled hamburger and Isabella's chicken tenders looked delicious! The kids were on their best restaurant behavior ever and even declared it was their new 2nd best favorite restaurant..after McDonalds! (I'm not sure how that place has brainwashed our kids, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the happy meal toy!)
After the dinner we drove over to the Falls of the Ohio, an Indiana State Park, to check out the transit of Venus. I fully expected for our family to be about 6 of 20 people in attendance for this event..but when we pulled up to the falls there was no where to park! I read that they had way over 300 people in attendance! It was really amazing!
Lots of volunteers had brought their fancy telescopes and had them aimed at the sun! It was a beautiful day, only partly cloudly, and people had to line up to view the telescopes. Just as we had read, it was like seeing a pea on a watermelon. Venus was a little black dot on the surface of the sun. This event was a once in a lifetime event, as it will not happen again until 2117!
After viewing the transit, we walked/skipped/hopped/jumped and splashed around the Falls. With pools of water everywhere, it was impossible to keep a 2 year old dry! The kids had a lot of fun rocking jumping and puddle splashing.
We will soon be back, as I purchased a groupon earlier this year for a nearby ice cream parlor. We have to check that out.
This picture says it all...Isabella trying to please mom by looking pretty and staring straight at the camera...and the boys being boys.
On Tuesday, after music lessons, we hit up one of our favorite Louisville restaurants "The Irish Rover". They had a surprising affordable children's menu..with meals priced under $3! Zachary loved his grilled hamburger and Isabella's chicken tenders looked delicious! The kids were on their best restaurant behavior ever and even declared it was their new 2nd best favorite restaurant..after McDonalds! (I'm not sure how that place has brainwashed our kids, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the happy meal toy!)
After the dinner we drove over to the Falls of the Ohio, an Indiana State Park, to check out the transit of Venus. I fully expected for our family to be about 6 of 20 people in attendance for this event..but when we pulled up to the falls there was no where to park! I read that they had way over 300 people in attendance! It was really amazing!
Lots of volunteers had brought their fancy telescopes and had them aimed at the sun! It was a beautiful day, only partly cloudly, and people had to line up to view the telescopes. Just as we had read, it was like seeing a pea on a watermelon. Venus was a little black dot on the surface of the sun. This event was a once in a lifetime event, as it will not happen again until 2117!
After viewing the transit, we walked/skipped/hopped/jumped and splashed around the Falls. With pools of water everywhere, it was impossible to keep a 2 year old dry! The kids had a lot of fun rocking jumping and puddle splashing.
We will soon be back, as I purchased a groupon earlier this year for a nearby ice cream parlor. We have to check that out.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Summer is ponytail season!
Before we go on our camping trip, I thought I'd load this picture of Olivia's first ponytail!
It's been a super fun busy week! I'll have lots of pics when we return.
It's been a super fun busy week! I'll have lots of pics when we return.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Summertime Week 1
This is our first summer with 4 and we plan to make it a summer full of fun and learning while not traveling too far from home. Our first week of summer started off with a Memorial Day party. Lots of food and friends from work and school. It was HOT...approaching 95 degrees, but the 10+ kids were able to stay cool with water balloons and the hose. I'm sure their parents loved us sending them home soaking wet and exhausted from the heat!
Monday we went to Indiana to visit Kyle's parents, Tuesday was wee-rock. Wednesday I took the kids to the zoo. We visited Vin's favorite animal, the polar bear, and saw lots of baby animals.
Polar bear training session. Zookeepers almost had to do the Heimlich on this poor bear after she started choking on her meat.
Thursday I had to go back to work for the day. Kyle had his solo first day with all the kids. Olivia did ok with her first bottle and drank 2 ounces..but then got wise to it and refused the 2nd one. Kyle said she was batting it away and screaming mad. Luckily I got to leave work early and was home by about 1. She was fine of course.
Friday was a mall shoe shopping day. The boys got matching Keens..the best shoes ever for kids!
Saturday was free fishing day! Wow! I'm surprised I can remember every day this well!
That morning we hit up Walmart for fishing gear. We bought hooks, worms and line. Then we headed out to Bernheim forest after Isabella's dance and Vincent's nap.
The pole we bought from Walmart was a tangley mess! Luckily my mom had a pole that worked. My dad also loaned us some cane poles that used to belong to my grandpa.
We got there and had a picnic dinner on the large lake. We decided it wasn't the best place for fishing because there was a lot of plant matter in the water..so we moved to the smaller lakes near the visitor center.
Feeding the geese. The kids named the dominant one "Hissy"! He wasn't so friendly!
Our first fish was a tiny 2 incher that I caught on a cane pole..but when we pulled him up through the bushes (literally) the hook yanked off. Somewhere in Bernheim lake is a little fish with a hook in his mouth.
Isabella with a cane pole!
It took a while before mom caught a fish. The fish kept eating her worms as soon as she'd throw it out. Then mom and Zach caught a nice size one! I love the pride the kids show when they held up their fish!
Vin and Mom caught the largest one! A nice sized blue gill.
"Blindy"
So Proud!
This magnifying glass ended up in the water when Vincent pitched it out there! Luckily our cane poles were about 30 feet long and I "fished" it out!
Olivia's first fishing trip!
I wonder what she was thinking??
It was a really fun fishing time! It was nice to sit on the water, relax and listen to the birds. Bernheim is one of our favorite places in the Louisville area.
We've got lots of fun things planned for this week...I'll keep you updated on Week 2!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Awards for Honors, Awards for Speed
First - my teeny tiny baby is 12 weeks old today! It's hard to believe! Today she was a dancer! On Tuesday's we go to Wee-Rock class. Last week she slept the entire time, but this week she rocked! She was kicking and waving her arms during the dance session..I swear she was dancing although I don't think anybody believed me.
I don't have a picture of her dancing, but I do have a picture of her recently discovered ability to suck her thumb. This started this week! Last Sunday, she also rolled over on Vincent's bed. I'm not sure if it was because the bed is a bit soft and easy to roll on..but she did it at 11 weeks. I need to get out the milestone book and see when that is expected. Even after 4 kids I can't remember these things!
Back-up to the Weekend: It was an insanely busy weekend. Friday night we had a soccer game and a mother-son event. Zachary and I went to a mother/son baseball game at U of L. The boys got to run out on the field before the game. Zachary had a great time watching the game and hanging out with his buddies.
High fives with players before the game.
The cool fountain..Zachary decided to run through it after the game..but then regretted it afterwards. He got pretty wet!
Everyone was cheering for him as he sprinted down the lane..working his elbows. They gave him a first place ribbon. You can see the previous race finishing.
Isabella was super proud of her ribbon and even said she wanted to run track next year! That was a surprise!
Zachary insisted I take a picture of "little oney" with his ribbon.
After the races Zachary had a piano recital. It was his best recital yet! He has really progressed and we are very proud of his for sticking with it!
On Sunday, Mother's Day we had 2 more soccer games schedules but thankfully they were rained out! It rained all day long and we just got to stay home and relax.
My kids and I on Mother's Day!
On Mother's Day they had the basement set up for me...including toys spelled out to say "MoM"
I got lots of handmade presents, but also a sewing machine which Isabella has really wanted! She wants to make dresses for all of the girls. It will be fun mommy-daughter bonding time as we learn to sew together!
Daddy and Baby girl!
And tonight..both kids received an award for the honor roll at school. Honor Roll at their school is a little different, which kind of makes it more special. Instead of all A's and B's, it is given to kids who get all S+'s and CM's (commendable) on their report cards. They received a certificate and pin. They were very proud as well!
Another busy week awaits but they are fun times! Before we know it, school will be out and another year will be behind us. I'm doing my best to enjoy all the time I get to spend home before going back to school in the fall. I'm so grateful that I have gotten to stay home these 12 weeks and thankfully I have about 12 more to look forward to!
I don't have a picture of her dancing, but I do have a picture of her recently discovered ability to suck her thumb. This started this week! Last Sunday, she also rolled over on Vincent's bed. I'm not sure if it was because the bed is a bit soft and easy to roll on..but she did it at 11 weeks. I need to get out the milestone book and see when that is expected. Even after 4 kids I can't remember these things!
Back-up to the Weekend: It was an insanely busy weekend. Friday night we had a soccer game and a mother-son event. Zachary and I went to a mother/son baseball game at U of L. The boys got to run out on the field before the game. Zachary had a great time watching the game and hanging out with his buddies.
High fives with players before the game.
Saturday morning we had a track meet. All 3 big kids ran. They had so much fun and it was a real self-esteem booster, even though they didn't win. They were very proud. Vincent stole the show when he false started his race. It was a preschool race and most of the kids were older..actually probably all were 3 or 4 except for him. I wasn't sure he wanted to do it..he kept changing his mind. I put him down on the track thinking he was going to back out, but when she told him to go up to the line..he went. He took off as fast as he could and didn't look back! It was too funny!
After the races Zachary had a piano recital. It was his best recital yet! He has really progressed and we are very proud of his for sticking with it!
On Sunday, Mother's Day we had 2 more soccer games schedules but thankfully they were rained out! It rained all day long and we just got to stay home and relax.
Another busy week awaits but they are fun times! Before we know it, school will be out and another year will be behind us. I'm doing my best to enjoy all the time I get to spend home before going back to school in the fall. I'm so grateful that I have gotten to stay home these 12 weeks and thankfully I have about 12 more to look forward to!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
4 kids and a camera
The dogwoods are in bloom, a bit early for the 2nd year in the row! Saturday, before church, we took the kids to a nearby park to get their picture taken. I had brought a stool and a pretty blanket, and I had visions of doing a photo shoot with a lot of creative poses. Let me just say it is nearly impossible to get 4 kids to look at the camera, with a pleasant face, all at the same time. I allowed myself 30 minutes to take pictures! This is the best that we got. Isabella and Olivia are look darling! Zach is looking very handsome, despite the shadow on his face. (I'll have to ask my Dad to correct that with his computer magic.) And Vincent is doing is typical superhero good guy/bad guy impression. Right after this picture was taken, Olivia went off on a screaming jag that ended the whole photo session. The photo session lasted 2 minutes before I made everybody pile back into the car...at least we got to church early.
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