So I got a new hair cut. I was so ready for something new and fun. I think it turned out really good...now the trick will be to see if I can actually style it myself!
I thought the picture of the day would be the pile of hair at the base of the styling chair. I may have to find a way to include the other two pictures though...just so I can make it into the album. Seems I'm always behind the camera!
The ducks have been hanging at the pond lately since the weather has been getting better. I think these are the same 3 ducks we see every year at this time...there always seems to be 2 males hanging together with 1 female...and occasionally we see them "fight" over her.
Tonight they walked across the street and came up into our yard. Guess they remembered the bread we gave them last year huh? These ducks will come right up onto the porch almost begging for some bread. Tonight we beat them to it only because Doug saw them out the window. Of course, there are geese that frequent our pond as well. They thought they were welcome also and headed over only be be chased away by the boys.
I used to like to see geese out now and then until I moved into a house across the street from a pond they like to hang out at. The problem is that they don't' stay at the pond and the surrounding grass...the come over to our yard and make a mess of it. We've been chasing geese now for 3 years...since the spring of of 2006 when they started building our house. We chase them hoping they get the idea they're not welcome. And, it generally seems to have worked. I do notice they come in our yard less than some of the other yards. But they don't stay completely away...so, as long as they're around the boys will be on "Goose Patrol" as we call it. You should see them run out toward the geese flapping their arms and yelling "Awk, Awk" to chase them away!
So, back to the ducks which is why these pictures were taken anyway...they are fun to watch and to feed and we look forward to the baby chicks that will be here soon I'm sure. As you can see, they're pretty comfortable and know there is usually food to be found at our place.
Some nights are especially busy around our house. Tonight was one of those nights. Kaden came home on the bus as usual and I was there to meet him. Kaleb had intermurals after school. This particular one was their last meeting for "Walking to Florida". The kids did laps around the inside halls of the school and kept track of how many laps they did. They then added up the distance they travelled as a group building each day in an attempt to "reach Florida by Spring Break". They made it to Orlando today on their last day for this intermural. Kaleb had to be picked up by 4:45 and had to be at baseball practice at about 5:30. That doesn't leave much time for dilly-dallying in between.
Kaden and I had dinner at home before we went to get Kaleb...taco night for us. I heated up a can of Chef Boyardee Lasagna for Kaleb and took it with us when we went to pick him up. Before intermurals he'd changed into shorts and a t-shirt so that made it easy for baseball. He ate dinner in the car while we headed to ball practice. Last year it was me that had to eat on the run since I didn't get home from work until about 5:30. Doug always had a meal ready for me in a plastic container so I could grab it and go to practice.
I don't like that Kaleb has to eat on the run but it doesn't happen all that often; only when intermurals happen on the same day as ball practice. He enjoys intermurals and I'm happy to let him go. It's always great exercise and a fun time with his friends.
So I couldn't pick just one picture this time around. Today we met Joann and Brian Peavler and their kids Richey and Riley behind the boys elementary school to practice some baseball. Richey is 7 years old and is also playing ball for Edgewood Little League. I believe Riley is 3 years old and isn't yet on a team. It was a beautiful day and we had a good time getting some practice in with them.
Kaleb was having Daniel spend the night that night so we had his parent's drop him off at the school. They got a few minutes to play on the playground before we headed out to Pizza King to get some dinner. Here they are playing Guitar Hero at our house after we got home.
We went to the Indiana Flower and Patio show tonight. It wasn't too busy so it was a nice leisurely stroll through the exhibits. It was nice to see so much color with all the plants they've brought in. These Hydrangeas were especially pretty...
Doug called me today on his way to work. He said "I know what the picture of the day should be." I was a bit surprised...he hasn't really gotten into the whole Project 365 thing too much. It's more something I do and often get help from the boys with. I asked him what the picture should be and he told me there were flowers all over our Star Magnolia that we put in on the side of our house last year. When we bought it we knew it would not bloom any last year so we had to wait patiently. There are no leaves on it yet but, for some reason, we both assumed we wouldn't see any flowers until after the leaves came out. Well, we were definitely wrong! He headed out to work today and spotted white flowers all over the tree. He must have been really excited about this sign of Spring to have suggested it for the picture of the day. I told Chris about his suggestion for the picture...she commented that he has sure come to love all things landscaping after coming through his teenage years hating to even mow the yard. She added that it always looked nice when he was done even though he hated every minute of it. I can say that now, the yard looks fabulous just after he's cut it. We get so many people stopping by to complement him on the yard while he's working on it. Those days will soon be here again!
Tonight was Science Night at Jeremiah Gray. The boys and I actually walked over to the school because it was so nice outside. We headed in and did a few science experiement with both Kaden's age group and Kaleb's age group. The button sorting was the first thing we did...they were to sort a bag of buttons any way they chose but had to explain to their parent how they did it. Kaden chose to sort by color and Kaleb chose to sort by the nubmer of button holes. Here they both are sorting (top picture) and here is Kaden's finished product (bottom picture).
We had a good time at science night. They also got to do some matching, guessing what was in the closed container based on the sound it made, made some goop, made a hot air balloon with vinegar and baking soda, learned about static, planted some sunflower seeds to bring home, and worked with the sorting/sifting screens.
After we walked home we decided to go for a walk because it was still so nice out. Actually, I walked while Kaleb rode a scooter and Kaden rode his bike. It was so nice to be outside for a walk...I'm so ready for Spring to be here! Kaleb actually rode right alongside me and surprised me with a question...he asked "What did you do at work today?" I was a little shocked by that question becaue he's never asked it before. Guess he's growing up huh?!? I told him about my day the best I could. Sometimes I don't completely understand what I do every day and how it relates to the big picture! Kaden wanted to hear also but he didn't want to stop riding his bike. I promised to tell him all about it when we were snuggling in for bed. I figured he'd forget to ask as he got in bed but he didn't...as soon as he was under his blankets and I was laying by him on his bed he asked me to tell him about what I did at work. It was nice...
Tonight we headed up to St. Vincent Hospital to see Doug's Grandma. She'd had a knee replacement surgery. Despite some setbacks she looked really good and seemed to be in pretty good spirits. We were there with the boys and not too long afterwards John and Chris came in then Dawn and Greg. The whole family was there and got to catch up a bit.
She'd originally had the surgery on March 5th. She stayed a couple days at the hospital and then was transferred to Hook's Rehab which is in Community East Hospital. This was closer to her home as well as John and Chris. She had some issues with a lot of swelling, bruising, and blistering on her leg. They still aren't sure what happened but the doctor determined that it was necessary for her to go back to St. Vincent Hospital and have surgery again so he could see what was going on.
We visited her after her 2nd surgery and found her doing so much better than she had originally. It looks like she's now on the road to recovery. She will remain at this hospital for her rehab rather than moving to Hook's again.
Tonight Kaden and I played 3 games of Candy Land. We hadn't played it in a long time and Bit was itching for a little quality time with Mommy so that's what we did. I hope he enjoyed kicking my butt ALL 3 TIMES! I'm not sure how he did it but he managed to get ahead and stay ahead each and every game. He even did it the hard way by getting the regular cards and not the special move up to this special place cards like Queen Frostine, etc. We had to look in the pile of cards to see if they were even in there because neither one of us ever really got them. The one time I got it (this picture exactly where I advanced to Queen Frostine) was when I was only about 5 squares away anyway. As you can tell, it still didn't help me much and Bit won this game also.
Kaleb took pictures today with his Just Say No club at school outside by this sign. He thought it would be a good picture of the day as well so we stopped by on our way home for a quick shot. the comment on this sign is about "making a choice" about which school to go to...In our school district you can go to "regular public school" or you can choose to go to one of 2 "Edison schools" which is what Jeremiah Gray-Edison Elementary is. To go to this type of school you have to put a request in and wait and see if you get in. It's not really an "acceptance" thing but rather a lottery and you just have to hope you're picked in the lottery. When KT was entering Kindergarten we tried to get into this school and were lucky enough to get in on our first attempt. Because KT already went there his siblings were automatically "in" so we've been going to this school since KT was in Kindergarten.
Today was the first day of the Arnold Classic - a bodybuilding and fitness expo in Columbus, Ohio. It's been running for over 20 years and was started here and by Arnold Schwarzenegger because this was the location of his first major win in body building. Doug and I have been coming to the show for many years. Sometimes traveling over for the day, one night, or, like this year, getting away for the whole weekend. We had a great time.
Here is a regular at the Expo - Lou Ferrigno - the original Incredible Hulk! He's always there to sign posters, pictures, and t-shirts. The funny thing about him is that he WILL NOT sign anything or take his picture with anyone unless you purchase something from him. Even to have your own picture or t-shirt signed he charges $20.00. It was funny standing close by and watching the way he was with the public. Yes, he is 80% deaf so maybe there is some issue hearing fans speak. But, 9 times out of 10 he passed each fan on to his "manager of sorts" who was there with him to deliver the "bad news" that "Lou charges $20 for a signature" or "You need to purchase something to have your picture with him". It was a little sad to see 30-something dads bring their sons to the booth only to get told they can take a picture from afar but if they want a picture with him or a signature they'll need to fork out the cash.
Kaden sat down with the Legos tonight and put some things together. He didn't use a book or directions to make anything in particular...just his imagination. This is what he came up with. It's some type of shooting range of sorts. The black things to the front (toward you) are the guns and they are to shoot the row of colored Legos at the top (closest to him). He was very proud of his firing range and made sure to set it out for Doug to see when he got home from work.
These are 3 of my favorite pictures we have. They are on the wall at the landing heading upstairs. The far left picture is a black and white taken by Celebrity Kids years ago. It happened quite by accident and the photographer almost deleted it before I stopped her! We were trying to get the boys to sit side by side but Kaleb was being a little pistol and turning his back. She ended up hitting the button at just the right moment and ended up getting a perfect silhouette of him! I loved it so much and will always be thankful that Kaleb didn't listen, at least for that moment!
The middle picture is of Doug and the boys a few years ago. They always take such good pictures together on the fly...they'll squeeze in really tight and it always turns into a great shot!
The last picture is one I did of the boys and I for Doug for Christmas several years ago. I am not as fortunate as Doug and the boys to have a candid picture turn out so great. So, we headed to Celebrity Kids again for this one.
Tonight the boys were both working on different projects. Kaleb was finishing up a science project that is due tomorrow. He was mostly done but had to finish up a couple drawings...mostly plants, a cricket, and a fruit fly. He pulled up some pictures of the cricket and the fruit fly on the computer as a reference. He commented when he came back in from the office that we shouldn't go in there. I asked why and he said because there was a picture of a fruit fly on the screen. I informed him that I went took a lot of science and have worked with fruit flies plenty in my day. He returned with a "Yes, but the one on the screen is huge...that's just creepy!" I had to check it out...and it was a giant picture of a fruit fly! I don't miss those days!
Kaden was working on making a "Flat Stanley" tonight. I'd printed out a template and he was coloring it in. We did both the front and back and put it on a piece of cardboard to make it sturdy. This Flat Stanley project is one that I'd heard about on a scrapbooking message board. In this exchange the kids of scrappers will make a Stanley and send him, along with a composition book, to other kids of scrappers all over the country. Each will take their visiting Stanley with them in their daily activities and journal about Stanley's adventures in the book. The Stanley will travel to several kids over the next couple months until finally returning home. Kaden is pretty excited about the project. Of course, I love the fact that he likes to be creative and do these kinds of things! I just look at it as something he and I can do together.
Kaleb has been participating in intermurals at school whenever he can. He's currently in both volleyball and a "walk/run to Florida" one. Tonight I got a picture of the line of cars waiting to pick up the kids from volleyball. There's always a big line of cars funneling in and out to get the kids. They are very safe at JG-E and make sure the kids don't go until their parent's car is ready for them and the rest of the cars have stopped. I must have gotten here a bit early because I'm rarely required to wait in a line...guess I was on top of it for once on this day!
As a side note, the "walk/run to Florida" intermural is one where the kids are walking laps inside the school. Each time they pass a certain "finish line" they take a chip and place it in a box. The teachers will be adding up each chip (which apparently accounts for .66 mile. As I write this it's actually 3-4-09 and he had his first day yesterday on 3-3-09. He said the group had walked far enough between them to make it from Indianapolis to Kentucky. I love that he's interested in joining his friends in these activities. It's always such great exercise and the kids don't even realize it!
DAY 60 - March 1, 2009
