Amazement Square

Sophia and Campbell are painting on a glass wall.











Riley is watching the flow of gravity with a golf ball.








Campbell and Riley are playing in the farm area.








Our local MOPS group had a play date at the Amazement Square in Lynchburg today. Approximately 20 of us were there and we all had a wonderful time. The kids absolutely loved it and the mommies enjoyed seeing them so happy and learning at the same time.

Afterwards, several of us went to Chick fil a for lunch and then headed back home. It was a long day, but worth every minute of it!

Vistors

This morning while I was drinking my coffee, I looked out the kitchen window and this is what I saw.

Turkeys.

It looks like a mommy (hen) and daddy (tom or gobbler) with 12 little babies (poults). I have seen them at my MIL's back yard a few times, but this was the first time they have gotten this close to my house. They didn't even seem to mind it when I opened the deck door and took a picture of them.

I hope they come back for a visit soon.

By the way, here's some fun turkey facts:

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/thanks/tkyinfo.html

Yogurt

Riley loves yogurt. She has eaten it since she could have solids. So, today I let her feed herself. I was around the house doing some chores and I checked back in on her a couple minutes later and it was gone! Not a drop on the floor. A little on the food tray and on her hands and face. Other than that, it was all in her tummy.

My little girl is growing up so fast.

Homestead Creamery

The local MOPS Group in our area (Mother's of Preschoolers) went on a tour of the Homestead Creamery today. Around 30 of us including children were able to tour the creamery and the dairy farm.

Before any of us could enter the creamery, we had to put on hair nets. Don't we look lovely?

We learned how the ice cream, butter, and milk were made. They even gave us samples of ice cream and milk too. It was a special treat because my neighbor and her two kids were able to join us this year as well.

After we toured the creamery, we headed over to the dairy farm and all the kids got to pet a baby calf that was less than a week old. It was so cute. It reminded me of "Norman" on City Slickers.

At the end of our tour all the kids were given a coloring book, pencil, eraser and sticker.

This play date is such a huge hit...we are already making plans to go again next year!

Car Wash

The girls helped me wash my van today. I don't know who got the wettest....me or the girls.

I lost count of how many times I had to refill the water bucket after the 10th time! Oh well, it kept them entertained for the first part of the morning.

Brosnan Forest

We had such a wonderful time at Brosnan Forest. It truly was a vacation for me considering my parents joined us and they did a lot of baby sitting. Brent and I were able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with each other. Including a day trip to Charleston, SC.

My favorite part was the daily bike rides with Brent and the girls. It was something that we could all do together and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Most importantly, my children are such good travelers. It makes for a pleasant ride to any destination.

I have uploaded the pictures of our vacation. Enjoy all 116 of them!

on location...vacation 2008

we're here, vacating. a few mid-week photos...


ever vacation with a wife and two daughters?


Campbell has become a skilled fisherman
(without an actual hook of course)


near the South Carolina coast + July = CURLS!!!


--BSM

Salem Fair

We always look forward to the Salem Fair. It is one of the biggest high lights around this time every year. It is where I get my once a year funnel cake fix!

Campbell is finally big enough to ride the kiddie rides by herself and she is determined to ride all of them! Riley was content in her stroller, but she was very clear that she wanted to ride the Carousel. She loved it! Laughing and giggling the entire time.

This time next year Riley will be able to ride with big sister!

Fun Day

While Campbell and Ida were at the pool, John came over to play with Riley. They were so cute together. I wish they could stay this age forever!

After lunch we decided to take a stroller ride around the neighborhood. Then it was time to come back inside because of the heat and we took advantage of the playroom upstairs. Both of them headed straight for the table and started looking at books and playing with a few puzzle pieces.

Before long, the girls came back from the pool and the play date had ended. I couldn't believe how fast the time went by. Both toddlers were happy and played so well with each other.

I just hope John and Riley are just as good of friends as Campbell and Ida.

I Need A Vacation!!

I am so excited that we are leaving for vacation on Saturday. After this week, I am definitely going to need one! No, just kidding. Although, I do have a lot going on this week.

Yesterday and Today were actually relative calm. On Wednesday is when all the excitement begins.....

Wednesday:
10am - Take Campbell to see the Bee Movie
Lunch at Chic-fil-a immediately following the movie
1:30pm - Brent is playing golf with his dad
Start packing for our vacation, vacuum the entire house and do laundry
4:30pm - Take a meal to a friend who just had a baby
5:15pm - Nana is picking the girls up for dinner
5:30pm - Hair appointment

Thursday -
11:00 Watching a neighbor's little boy while she entertains Campbell and Ida at the pool (or maybe it's the other way around)
Continue packing for our trip and sweep and mop the hardwood floors.
5:30pm - Cookout with Nana and Papa

Friday -
Finish all the loose ends and do another couple loads of laundry
Put the girls down early for a nap
After nap have fun at the Salem Fair

Saturday -
South Carolina or BUST!!

Whew!! OK, now I need to get ready for bed because my 5am workout routine comes early!!

body parts and animal noises

Riley is starting to learn her body parts and animal noises. This is such a sweet stage in a toddlers life. It is so cute to see her pointing to her nose, eyes and ears and saying quack, moo and ruff. She really likes it when I sing "Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes" and the "Old McDonald" songs. Especially in public!

It's amazing what you will do and say when you have kids of your own!

Milkshake

Campbell earned her milkshake on Thursday during swimming lessons. She actually put her entire face in the water AND exhaled underwater.

We will definitely do this again next year! The instructors are so good with the children.

For those of you that are interested in learning more about swimming lessons through the Red Cross, here's the website. Once you open the website, you can call the main phone number to the Roanoke Chapter and ask for the Aquatic Department.


http://www.roanokevalleyredcross.org/index.cfm/fa/content.view/menuID/792.htm

The swimming lessons are completely full the rest of the summer, but they will be having some fall lessons this year.

Red Light

The girls and I were running errands one day this week. While we were stopped at a red light I was quizzing Campbell about the meaning of Red, Yellow and Green lights. It was silent for a few minutes (which never happens) and Campbell asked, "what does the purple light mean?"

Purple? Light?? What??

Campbell started laughing and she said that it meant you can go very fast!!

In the back of my mind I was thinking where can I get one of these?? That would definitely be my speed!

It definitely seems to fit considering Campbell pretends she is on a roller coaster every time she gets in the van with me.

Swim Lessons

Campbell started swim lessons this week. She has been talking about it nonstop ever since I signed her up a few weeks ago. We just finished our first week today and Campbell is loving it. Here's a recap:

Monday - Wasn't able to get in the water because of some storms in the area. So, all the kids practiced "big arm" strokes.

Tuesday - Practiced floating on her back and tummy. Also, jumped off the side of the pool.

Wednesday - Same as above but actually put her face in the water!!

Thursday - On the way to swim lessons I told her that I would buy her a milkshake if she would blow bubbles while her face was in the water. She didn't have the courage to do it today, but maybe next week.


This morning when Campbell woke up I asked her "How is my little swimmer?" She responded by saying, "I'm not your little swimmer, I'm Daddy's big swimmer!"

I stand corrected.....

Ice Cream

My parents are in town for a few days. So, after dinner I thought it would be nice for all of us to go out for ice cream. As you can tell from the picture above, Campbell and Riley loved the strawberry ice cream.

this ol' man...he said dance

Too cute for words

Fun In The Sun

It was such a nice day out so I thought it would be fun to let the girls play with the sprinkler. Or maybe it is called a water ring. Either way, the girls loved it.

Campbell enjoyed it so much last year, that I just knew Riley would too. Sure enough! Her favorite part was trying to catch water in her mouth.

how to eat a lollipop...our first youtube

A couple awhiles ago?

Earlier today I asked Campbell if she had gone to the potty recently. She said in her most confident voice that she had not but she did "a couple awhiles ago".

I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm sure it is significant in her own mind.

Would anyone like to translate?