Talkin' on the phone

Noah's newest thing is talking on the phone. He LOVES our home phone and, of course, my cell phone. But yesterday, he picked up Kendall's purple Polly Pocket phone and just started babbling away.

"AHHH OHHH?"

"Dadadad bababa ah ta da ba..."

"Ahh dun"

"Buh bye"

He just sat back and talked for 10 minutes or so. Kept picking up the phone, pressing the buttons, putting it to his ear and saying, "Ahhh-oh?"

It was really cute...and then Kendall picked up another phone and started talking too...and that's when I realized that I am soon going to have 2 kids that talk nonstop!!! Well, hey...at least they can talk to each other, right????

Back in Business!

Well, folks, I am back in business! Last week we had a storm and my laptop was plugged in....and well, we think it basically fried my modem. So, NO logging on for me for almost a week! Sorry to leave you hanging! But Barry saved me yesterday by buying me a new modem...so away we go!

Really though, in all honesty, we were on VACATION...and I didn't really feel like posting anyway. But now, it is back to real life and time to get back to keeping everyone updated! So, to that end, here is how we spent our week off:

We went home the weekend of the 12th to pick up a piano. Yes, everyone, a PIANO. No, none of us play...YET! Our dear friends Bill and Sue needed to get rid of their piano and had been asking us if we wanted it. Of course we did! So, we headed home to load it up...and what an experience THAT was! We are so thankful, as Kendall cannot wait to start piano lessons, and Noah thinks it is too cool as well.


The big thing was that we picked up our niece Kayla and took she and Kendall to Kings Island on Tuesday. We had promised Kendall that we would take her this summer, and time was running out! I'll tell you what...we had the perfect day! Tuesday is definitely the day to go! The park wasn't busy at all, the weather was perfect, and the kids were in a great mood! They were game for almost anything...except the roller coasters, of course! We did Nickelodeon Central, the waterpark, even White Water Rapids (boy, did we get SOAKED there!) I was too wet to even think about getting my camera out! We rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We rode the Scrambler AND the Octopus. (And I'll tell you another thing...my stomach is not what it used to be! UGH!) All in all, it was a really fun day. And wouldn't you know, those kids made it from the time the park opened until it closed....I couldn't believe it! Real troopers, we were!

The rest of the week was basically spent working. Barry built his retaining walls out back, we stained the front porch, and we picked up our "new-to-us" entertainment center. Kendall had a sleepover at Aunt Jessie's on Sunday night, so that gave Barry and I a chance to clean out our old entertainment center and get the great room organized and arranged with the new one. What a difference that made! Now, I just need some color on the walls and 2 new chairs to replace the white sofa....

Do I feel rested?
Do I feel like I've had a week's vacation?
Am I ready to go back to work?

No, not a bit. But all in all, we had a nice week. Couldn't have asked for better weather, really. And I was just pleased to have Barry around for a whole week. That was the icing on the cake...it was really just nice doing things together!

Enjoy the pics, and look for more later in the week!

Gold Teeth

Alright, now seriously....is it really necessary to have GOLD teeth?

I just went in and sat on the couch with Barry for a minute. He was watching FOOTBALL. Yes, it's that time again! And on the TV is Barry's team, the sad, sad, BENGALS.

And they are interviewing a player named Chad Johnson.

Now, I am not disputing the fact that he may be a big deal. I don't know and I don't care. But let me just tell you that when he was talking, I could NOT stop LOOKING AT HIS TEETH! All of his front teeth were gold plated, or capped, or whatever. And I cannot, for the life of me, come up with one single good reason to do something like that. It was SO UGLY. And TRASHY. And just plain DUMB LOOKING, for lack of a better word.

Now, I know that I am maybe not up to speed on what is "in", or what is cool right now, but I'm feeling pretty confident that this is NOT it.

Seriously, now...what on earth would cause someone to think that looks good? I really need to know, because it is beyond my comprehension.

And the heavy metals that he has just introduced into his body???? (This is not a good thing, healthfully speaking, if you are not aware...)

Let's not even go there...... What a DUMB A**!!!

(Oh yeah, and Barry can NOT believe that I am actually blogging about this right now...but hey, whatever moves you! And this DID!)

Fear Conquered!

Yes, that's right everyone! I did it! I rode that ferris wheel and made it off alive...just barely! No, seriously...I did OK, but I will admit that I thought I was going to be sick there for a few minutes. I had to have Barry hold Noah, because I thought I might not be able to hold onto him if I froze in fear. I never thought I was afraid of heights, but now I am thinking that maybe, just maybe...I am.

But hey, I confronted my fear and am a better person for it....right? (Yeah, whatever makes me sleep better at night!) And when all is said and done, I hope that I've made an impression on Kendall. I guess we'll have to see about that!

The fair was fun, but HOT! The kids and I picked Barry up from work and headed over to secure a close parking space. Kendall was already talking about which rides she was going to ride before we even got through the gate! Her favorite was definitely the Croc Coaster...just a teeny tiny little roller coaster, but just her speed. She rode it twice. She also bounced in the Bounce House, rode the helicopter ride, and we did the Big Slide (that's MY favorite!). She begged and begged to play one of the midway games. We finally relented and she picked one (thankfully) that guaranteed a prize everytime. She won a purple stuffed snake and named him SNAKEY. Of course. What else would she name him????

We checked out the different species of fish in the conservation building.

We ate corn dogs, gyros and ice cream from the Dairy Barn.

We saw the Butter Cow and the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile.

We watched a pig race.

We saw the decked-out Percherons go trotting into the arena. Man, those horses are HUGE!

All in all, it was a really good day at the fair. And really, is ANY day at the fair NOT a good day???

Selfish

So you all know who the Veggie Tales are? They are cartoons featuring talking vegetables who put on stories from the bible for kids. They are really cute, and have catchy songs!

That said, let me just tell you a story....

Kendall got her most recent Netflix selection, and it was Veggie Tales: King George and the Ducky. This is the story of King George, who felt that he was the only important person in the world, and therefore, everything he wanted should be his...no matter what. So anyway, King George LOVES his rubber ducky...and he has an entire closet of duckies. BUT, a poor little boy in the village has a ducky that King George feels he simply MUST have! You see where this is going, don't you?

Obviously, the moral of the story is not to be selfish. And let me just add here that Kendall takes all of these little lessons to heart...and very literally. Those of you who know her well know exactly what I'm talking about! So, the other night, after watching her Veggie Tales movie, she turns off the tv, comes over to me and sits on my lap and says:

"Mama?"

"Yes, Bug?"

"I am very ashamed of myself."

"WHAT? WHY?!"

"I've been selfish towards Noah. I haven't been sharing nicely and I've been hiding my toys from him. But I'm going to be better...I'm not going to be selfish anymore!"

(Now keep in mind, she is being VERY animated while she is saying all of this...eyes big and wide, head bowed, etc.)

"Well, Kendall, I'm sure Noah would understand that you don't want him to play with ALL of your toys...some of them are breakable. But I AM proud of you for wanting to do better. And anyway, the important thing is that you two play TOGETHER!"

GEESH! Sometimes I feel like we're doing confession! But hey, at least she's still honest. But the story doesn't stop there....OH NO, IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT!

Later that night, Barry and I each received a package wrapped up in newspaper and tied with ribbon. They each had a note tied to them. When we opened them, there was a seashell in each that she had collected on our last trip to the beach. My note said:

DEAR MOM,

I WILL NOT BE SELFISH.

LOVE, KENDALL

And Barry's said the same....

Yes, folks...this is the drama we live with. Sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's not so good. But on this day, we just smiled and thanked our lucky stars that she IS listening!

Just Another Day...

Not too much exciting is going on this week, I'm sorry to report! My van went in to have the bodywork done from when I hit that darned yellow pole, so of course, I'm happy about that. Of course, that also means that for the next week and a half I will be driving the car and Barry will be back to driving the truck. Talk about a gas-sucker! I am going to miss my Odyssey like crazy...but when I get her back, she will be all pretty again!

The Fair
The Ohio State Fair started yesterday, and Kendall is already asking every morning when we can go. She LOVES the big ferris wheel. For those of you who don't know, I HATE ferris wheels...but I am making an effort to conquer my fear in order to show Kendall that it can be done! And more importantly, that you SHOULD try to conquer your fears! So, I WILL ride that darn ferris wheel this year with a smile on my face...and fear in my heart! ;-)

Counting the Days
I am counting the days until Friday. My Mom has offered to take the kids for the weekend so I can get some deep cleaning and weeding-out done around this house. You know, the stuff you can never seem to get to when the family is all around....like cleaning fan blades, mopping floors, dusting the log walls and woodwork, weeding out closets and storage spaces, and just general organizing. I have my list made, and it is LONG! But I am determined to get as much done as possible while the kids are out of the house. I have even tossed around the idea of throwing Barry out too....but I just may need him! So if you don't hear from me this weekend, and you usually do...just know that I am cleaning and weeding and laughing in an insane, evil laugh!

Talk to me after the weekend...I'll be feeling so much better. Free and easy, and clutter free! How I love to be organized!


FAT VACCINE???
I hate the news. (Sorry Missy...except for your show, of course!) The big teaser for the 11:00 news last night was the "new" fat vaccine. UGH. That's America for ya. Nothing else of any importance going on...the most riveting thing out there is our obsession with being thin, and finding the easiest way to accomplish it. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous...I couldn't even watch it just to make fun of it! How about we just stop stuffing our faces....maybe exercise a little? Or hey, maybe even eat veggies and protein instead of a bunch of crappy processed foods? Nah, that would take too much effort. Let's just go "vaccinate" ourselves instead. I can't WAIT to see what the side effects are for this little "MIRACLE"!


Christmas Shopping in August
I have officially commenced the yearly Christmas shopping extravaganza. I bought my first two gifts yesterday, and it feels good to say that I have two people done already! I figure if I stay on top of things and am able to pick up a couple of things every other week or so, things will go along quite smoothly and won't impact my checkbook quite so much in December! And believe me, that will be a GOOD thing. I hate the stress of shopping in December. I like to be finished by December 1. Let's just see if I can make it happen! I already have ideas for two more people! GO JEN!

The Garden
My garden is bumming me out a bit. I am not sure what the problem is. Last year we had cucumbers like mad. I was picking 30 in one day! This year, there are hardly any out there, and they are not green...and don't get green. They just get bigger and bigger and stay a pale green/yellow. I am going to taste one today to see if they are any good.

The zucchini look good. I am getting plenty of that. But when Kendall's friend Adam was over last week, Barry took them out to the garden to pick the veggies adn Adam accidentally pulled one of my plants right out of the ground trying to get a zucchini off. UGH. Oh well. There are plenty of others out there. It seems like they are slowing down a little though...

Our first batch of lettuce was really good. We planted romaine and buttercrunch. But after the first cutting, it never came back well. And the broccoli bolted...I didn't think it was ready to pick, but I guess it was! So, we mowed both of those down...

The tomatoes are doing well, and they taste sooo good! I have quite a few on my counter, so I think I will be making some salsa or something yummy very soon. But some questionable beetles have moved in on my Lemon Boy plants, so I may need to keep an eye on that.

And last but not least, my pumpkin plants have withered up and died. Not sure what the problem is there either. Barry and I are investigating....what a pisser! I was really looking forward to giant pumpkins!

Missing the beach
Every year at this time, we are preparing for the beach. We go with a group of our friends, get a big beach house and relax, play with the kids and eat yummy food for a whole week. I LOVE IT. I love being in close quarters with my some of my favorite friends. I love that our kids play well together. Heck, I love that WE play well together! You know, it really does take a special group of people to live in one house and get along so well for a whole week...and even have fun! But we do. And this is why I live for the week at the beach.

UNFORTUNATELY, we are not going this year. I thought I would be ok with it, but I am starting to get bummed now that it is August. We just couldn't get it pulled together. No one could commit, the weeks just weren't working out, in short, it just wasn't meant to be this year. I am holding my breath for next year. The beach is my respite. It is the time of the year where my friends are my focus. In this point of our lives where we are so busy with kids and life in general, it is a week where we can reconnect and really enjoy each other. I look forward to seeing them so much. There is no other vacation like it! Friends, food and fun....and that's it. So, Sheri, Sarah, Torben, Jon, Missy, Connor, Alicia, Chad, Ethan, Ansley, Chad, Beth, Riley.....I'm putting you on notice! I miss you all...and our time at the beach! Let's get it on the calendar for next year!

Have a good day folks!

Fun in the sun!

On Wednesday, Kendall's friend Adam came for a sleepover. They had been planning this thing for 6 months or so, and it was time for it to happen!

Kendall has been begging to go to the pool in London all summer, but it just isn't realistic to take both kids by myself. Noah definitely needs all of my attention, and Kendall would want to be in the big pool, commanding all of my attention as well....all the while with 100 kids running around everywhere. I wasn't taking that chance with yet another child along! I decided to suprise them with a little trip to the Dublin splash park...none of the kids had been there before, so they were VERY suprised! It was really fun! Best of all, kids (and parents) of all ages can play together in the SAME area....and that folks, is what sold me!

They about lost their minds when they saw the park! I thought Kendall and Adam just may very well pee their pants on the walk up there. It took Noah a few minutes to warm up and get the hang of things, but then he was a maniac! He kept sitting down on the fountains, and trying to grab the water from the vertical jets....it was hysterical! And the whole time he was squealing!

Kendall and Adam took off to play in the waterfall, and find some other kids to play with. After an hour or so, the kids needed a snack...so we headed to the towels and sat down for a rest. After that, they decided they were done playing in the water and a decision was unanimously made to go home and have ice cream. That decision got no resistance from me!

So here are a few pictures from our fun day for you to enjoy....don't you just remember how fun it was to play in the water all summer when you were a kid? AHHHHH....summer!

Mothers and Daughters

Here we are...my friend Heather and I, and our daughters Sophie and Kendall. Heather and her family came on Sunday for a cookout. We ate, the kids played, we fished, went canoeing...it was just plain fun. The kids had a ball...and these two little girls were like two peas in a pod. At one point, Heather and I giggled when we heard this little exchange:

"Sophie, I'm so glad you are my friend."

"Me too Kendall...but who's your BEST friend?"

"You are!"

"Yeah, you're mine too!"

Girls. They're so funny. And Heather and I were just sitting and smiling for a moment, grateful that our girls are as good of friends as we are.

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Yes, my friends, today is the day. The day that our place actually becomes some sort of farm. You see, last night after the kids were soundly in bed, Barry headed over to the neighbors' house to pick up our chickens. After we carefully put them to roost in the coop, we laid in bed talking about the best way to suprise Kendall and Noah in the morning. As it turned out, I actually had to tell Kendall so that she would get her little butt out of bed and we could let them out of the coop and feed them. Boy, did she fly out of her bed when I said it was time to get up and feed the chickens!

So we went out and pulled up the trap door, ever so slowly, so as not to freak them out. They were anxious for their feed, but had no interest in coming out of the coop. Finally, I convinced Kendall that if we went inside, they would come out on their own. They did, and now she is back out there, chasing them all over their pen. Poor chickens. If they're smart, they'll just warm up quick! Otherwise, these two will pester them to death! She is not going to leave them alone until she catches one.

Oh My Goodness, she JUST DID! As I sit here typing, she has caught one of the chickens!b

So now, we are in the process of naming them! Kendall has decided that one must be named Pixie, to which I replied that we must then name 2 others Dixie and Trixie. We have decided to name our rooster Elvis, since he WAS the King and all.... (more updates on names later!)

So Kendall and Noah chased those chickens for quite a while...and let me tell you, Noah is NOT afraid of them. In fact, he chases them as aggressively as Kendall! So here are a few pictures of this morning's foray into the chicken pen...Enjoy!

Thank you, Summer!

Today I was sitting on the front porch eating some yummy and refreshing Breyer's peach ice cream with the kids, and I was thinking...."What a beautiful day. What a perfect moment." And I realized, as I do more and more frequently as I get older, I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. And so tonight I am taking a moment to make a list and share all of the things that I love about summer. So sit back and enjoy...and maybe even close your eyes, smile a little, and think of the things YOU are thankful for this summer!

I LOVE...

Sunshine early in the morning AND late at night.

The kids' sunkissed cheeks and freckles on Kendall's nose.

Watching the kids run through the sprinkler and thinking "Maybe I'll go put on my suit and play too!"

The extremely loud (yes, LOUD) sounds of the country after the sun goes down. Some nights it's louder than it was in our old development! Crickets, bullfrogs, coyotes, birds, dogs...you name it, we hear it!

Barry's farmer tan...and sunburned neck.

Mowing the grass... and especially what it looks like when it's all finished.

All the bouquets of "flowers" that Kendall picks for me every day.

Random fireworks

The smells of summer...people grilling out, fresh cut grass, wildflowers, the fresh dew in the early morning, tomato plants, chlorine in the kids' hair, sunblock on their skin, and even (although I know it sounds yucky...) the smell of Barry after he's been outside working all day!

Lots of grilled foods!

Noah in his Spiderman swim diaper

Bonfires/campfires...and s'mores!

Vacations...enough said!

Floating on the lake on Mom & Joe's boat, having lunch or dinner at Sunnyside, and of course, pretzels and Farmer's cheese (that's all you, Sue!) for snacks.

Fresh lemonade... especially with a little Bacardi Limon and frozen strawberries!

Frozen grapes (that's just for you Sheri...you're going to turn into one big grape sometime soon!)

Lush, full, colorful landscaping

Evening walks

Cookouts with friends

Chirping crickets

My porch swing and rockers....ahhhh!

Having dinner out...and being able to eat outside

Shorts, strappy tanks, and flipflops

Thank God for sunblock!

My summer "do"

Going to the zoo

Hanging clothes on the line...there is really nothing like that smell, especially on your sheets!

Having a little color on my so-very-fair skin

Fishing in our pond....it's the best!

Ice cold beer

All of the fresh veggies from our garden...tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce, beans...yum!

Sitting on the porch with Barry, not needing to say a word.

Outdoor concerts with friends

Seeing people cruise around in their convertibles and on their motorcycles

The kids' dirty little feet and sweaty little bodies, tired from playing in the sun...needing, yes, NEEDING, popsicles!

Biking, if we ever get a cool enough evening again!

Finding the perfect skipping stone

Fireflies! They are amazing out here. You really must see it to believe it!

And the number one thing I love about summer.....yep, you guessed it...

ICE CREAM!!!!!!

A Bit of Randomness

Just a couple of random thoughts and pictures for today...

This first picture is of yet another of Kendall's captures. Have you ever seen a dragonfly? Those things are quick! I don't know how she does it, but she catches them like crazy! She has caught quite a few different colored ones, and many different sizes, but this is one of the biggest...and boy, was she proud of it! After she studies them for a bit, she lets them go...and I'm betting they are pretty happy about that.



This next picture was taken during the final steps of finishing the chicken coop. Kendall suited up and got out there to help her Daddy paint. We picked red with white trim, just like a little barn. (I did the trim!) The painting didn't last long for Kendall...it just wasn't exciting enough, I guess. But her intentions were good, and sometimes that's all you can ask for!





Picture #3 comes to us courtesy of out favorite babysitter Susanna. She and Kendall are always busy doing some kind of art or craft. When I came home Thursday, this was what I came home to. They decided to make a bunny costume for Kendall...just in case she might decide to be a bunny for halloween. I won't hold my breath. I'm sure she'll change her mind a million times before then! But didn't they do a great job anyway? Susanna is awesome, and quite the artist. And she has really awakened the creative side of Kendall this summer... We will really miss her when she heads off to college this fall!









And last, but not least...

This is one thing that everyone should get to see at least once every summer. There are few things as peaceful as a hot air balloon gliding effortlessly in the sky. This one floated right over our house. Things are pretty open around us, so we sat outside and watched it for quite a long time. It was so relaxing! Kendall is all geeked up to ride a hot air balloon now...I think that will become one of her major conquests! and why not? I'd like to go too!

Not much more to report really. We've just been hanging around the house getting things done and keeping busy with swimming and gymnastics. Oh yeah, Vacation Bible School is this week too. Kendall LOVES that! Their theme this year is "FIESTA! Where kids are fired up about God". And I'm tellin' you what.... when I get there to pick her up in the evening, they are having a big party! Music, singing, dancing, maracas, sombreros....you name it, they've got it! It looks like so much fun...I hope that my schedule permits me to help with it next year!

Noah is up to all the same capers as usual. He has two more teeth, and is chewing on his hands incessantly, so I think we may have a few more coming. He also chases bugs, just like his older sister. Except he eats the bugs when he catches them, so I have to watch him like crazy! He is so quick, he has caught a few wasps (which freaks me out beyond words...) He is obsessed with the dishwasher, and has figured out how to open it, even when it is latched. And believe me, he doesn't just open it once! That little stinker. If he weren't so cute....

BUT HE IS!

Awww, Man!

Check out these cute shoes!

Yes, they could only have come from Amy Wood! She sent them when Noah was born, and of course, thy've been too big until just recently. So last weekend, I was anxious to bust them out! I put him in a cute little outfit that would go with them, and went to put them on...

And they wouldn't fit!

His little piggies are just too chubby! Those kissable little toes wouldn't fit under the plastic toe of the shoe....

We were bummed, of course....but hey - that just means we get to keep looking at those wonderful, pudgy, kissalicious feet!

Heeere Chicky-Chicky-Chicky!

For those of you who don't already know, we are getting chickens soon. Our neighbors got them last year, and Kendall has loved going over to play with the chickens and hunt the eggs. So when they told us they had hens sitting and asked if we would want some chickens this summer, of course we said yes! The prospect of having our own fresh eggs was too much to pass up!

So, Barry has been busy building our chicken coop, and Kendall has been keeping an eye on those newly hatched chicks. They are so cute! But I'm telling you what...they don't stay little for long! Within a week or two, they don't even look like chicks anymore!

So here are a few pictures that Susanna, our neighbor girl and favorite babysitter, snapped this week. Kendall is planning on naming each and every chicken (we'll have about a dozen). Hope those chicks know what they're in for!

Ta Daaaa!

While we were at my Mom & Joe's over the 4th, Kendall was wild in the pool! She did not want to get out for anything....and was constantly busy persuading someone to get in with her. That is, until Papa Joe dunked her....then she didn't want him in the pool for a while!

After she got over that, she and Papa had a great time goofing off in the water, and I had fun just
snapping pictures. When it was all said and done, Kendall ended up with her first case of green hair...and I do mean GREEN. The ends were as green as her swimsuit! She freaked out a little initially, but now she's ok with it.
So, what you see to the left here is just one of her many death-defying acts! Next year we're selling tickets for sure!

And check out those spindly legs in the last picture....geesh! Wish I could say she got those from me, but alas, no. Those are a definite KUCK trait!




TA DAAAAA!

A Few Pics of the Weekend

Finally! I have found the time to post some pictures of the holiday weekend! We had a little bit of everything going on, so this is just a few images for ya!

On Friday evening, Chad and Riley came for a visit. Beth was coming in on Saturday morning to meet up with them for an overnight stay in Columbus, and they decided to stop at our house on Friday to let the girls get in some fun time. Those girls were having a BLAST! They played dress-up, and put on a show for us. The picture above is from the show. It was about Cinderella and Wanda the Witch. Very good show, I must say. And Kendall even played a little "banjo" for us...(yes, Chad, I know you are cracking up right now!) Then, as you see in the pictures, I donned Kendall's Surgeon gear to take care of all Chad's ailments...(I seriously don't know what I was thinking there..... ;-)

Then on Saturday morning after I was done working, we headed to my Aunt Penny and Uncle Rick's for a cookout. My uncle Greg was in from New York City, so everyone was there to visit.

Once the kids were all hot, sweaty, and tired out, we headed to Mom's to get them bathed and into bed. EXCEPT....Kendall saw Mom and Joe's little pool set up out back and she just had to have a swim before her bath. So that is exactly what she did. Then, of course, not wanting to miss out on a visit with the kids, Papa Joe came home and jumped in the pool with her. And that was basically how the whole next afternoon went...Jessie, Joe, Kendall and Noah in the pool. I was more than content to just sit in the sun and read a magazine, and Barry actually got to take a nap! Noah had NOT slept well the night before, so we were all a bit tired!

Then on Saturday night, we were off to Gary and Luanne's for a cookout. The kids played like crazy, and it was really nice to visit with everyone. Since Noah had not slept well (at all!) the night before, we decided to just go back home instead of to Mom & Joe's. We rushed out of there just in time to miss a storm rivaling the one in the Wizard of Oz...and made it home to put the tired kiddos to bed.

The rest of the weekend we just ran errands, worked around the house and RESTED. It was so nice to lay around and be lazy for once! We let Kendall do some sparklers and poppers for the 4th....and of course, she thought that was totally cool! And then to wrap it all up, Barry and I sat down and watched Deuce Bigalow:European Gigolo for some laughs before we had to go back to work on Wednesday.

And that's it folks! Although I do have another set of pics to share for next time I post! Until then... CIAO!

Just A Tiny Little Thing

Is that the tiniest little frog you've ever seen, or what? Kendall found that little frog today while we were out working on the chicken coop. I swear, that girl can find ANYTHING. She is amazing...and not afraid of much! If it moves and catches her eye, she is after it...and won't stop chasing until she gets it!

This little tree frog is sitting on her thumb in this picture, so you can only imagine how small he actually is. Thank goodness she didn't have a problem letting him go...it was almost bedtime, and we thought she may have a meltdown when we told her he needed to go home to his family. But no, she was cool with that....and so off he went, only to be found again another day!

So Happy 4th of July everyone...and here's hoping that you all find a small treasure today, just like Kendall!

You're Kidding....RIGHT?

Last night when we got home from my Mom's, Barry and I sat down to go through the mail and the paper. I was flipping through the many ads, and picked up this little circular called Hometown Values (it's kind of like a Dollar Saver). As I was flipping through, I saw an ad that had a headline reading "Our Featured Recipe". So I, being the perpetual new-recipe-seeker, decided to take a look...and that's when I couldn't believe what I was reading!

The "Featured Recipe" was...
(are you ready for this? I can barely even type it without rolling my eyes)

DEEP FRIED OREOS!

YUCK! And let me just share the "recipe" with you here...

1 (20 oz) package Oreos (YES, because we need ALL 52 cookies!)
2 cups Bisquick
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
3 tsp oil
Vegetable Oil (enough to deep-fry in)

And here's the kicker...in small print at the bottom of the ad, it says...

"If you want to try a lighter version, use lowfat milk, canola oil, and reduced fat Oreos."

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????????

A lighter version of ANYTHING does NOT include the word DEEP FRY in it! Or OREO, for that matter!

Geeze Louise...and we wonder why 73% of America is fat! Let's just see how bad we can possibly make an already completely unhealthy food. What could we do? Hmmmm....yeah, that's it! We could DEEP FRY it!

Great. Wonderful. Peachy.

People just amaze me sometimes. I am left scratching my head....

What on earth will they deep-fry next????

Very Important Question

So, when you take a bath or shower, how many towels do you use?

Seriously, I really want to know!

Yesterday, I was working on one of my clients, and he was telling me that he just didn't understand why women make things harder for themselves. I told him that I quite agreed, but asked him what he was talking about specifically. (Now understand that he has 5 daughters, so he is utterly and completely surrounded by women.) He told me that when he and his family first started heading up to his boat for the weekend that the girls and the women would take forever in the morning "getting ready". He couldn't understand why they were curling or straightening their hair, putting on makeup, and wearing cute outfits and heels. They are on a BOAT, for pete's sake! And as soon as the boat gets moving, there is no more cute hair...and as soon as you slather on your sunscreen, there is little makeup left....and he just didn't even know what to think about the HEELS!

SO...one evening they had company on the boat, and he asked the simple question. How many towels do you use when you take a bath or shower? All of the men answered, "One!"

All of the women answered two to three. Now me, being kind of a simple girl, had to ask...what on earth are they using three towels for? He proceeded to tell me that he asked the very same question...and that is seems they need one towel to wrap around their head, another to dry off and wrap around their body, and yet another to drape over their shoulders. OKAAAYYY???!!!

So then he asks...what do you do with the three towels when you are finished with them? I answered, "Well, I only use one, and then I hang it on the towel rack to dry."

"Do you use it the next day?"

"Of course!"

And you see, this is where it becomes a little over the top...because what he informed me of is that every girl/woman on that boat replied that she throws her towels in the hamper. And when he suggested that they use a towel more than once...they (supposedly) gasped in horror! "Gross!" "DAAAADDDD! Yuck!"

So the basis of his rationale on this whole "women make things difficult for themsleves" thing culminates right here....

His wife is doing at least one load of towels every SINGLE DAY, in addition to the ridiculous amount of laundry she already has. And because his girls are into quite a few sports and extracurriculars, they take anywhere from one to three showers each day...and use 3 towels each time. He doesn't understand why they can't make things just a little easier and cut down on some laundry in the process. But hey, who is he to say?

I listened to this story, and really, truly could not think of one person I knew who might use three new towels for every bath/shower. He told me to take a survey and I would be suprised at the results....

SOOOO...How many towels do YOU use? And do you use them more than once???

I just HAVE to know....

A Bit of This, A Bit of That...

We were so excited that we had nothing we "had" to do this past weekend. But of course, you know how that goes, right? Those are the weekends that end up being busier than all the rest! I found out on Thursday that I had free tickets to the Picnic With The Pops concert featuring Wynonna. Of course, we didn't want to miss that! But alas, there were no sitters to be found, so we decided to tempt fate and take the kids. Sheri came along for an additional set of hands, and off we went. Kendall thought it was the greatest...a huge lawn filled with people to talk to and who would watch her dance! Unfortunately, she became a bit less agreeable once the concert started and we wanted her to sit with us on the blanket. Noah REFUSED to sleep. He would sit on Barry's lap, or let Sheri or I carry him around with his head on our shoulder, but to no avail. Sleep eluded him. So, we decided to pack it up...and our timing couldn't have been better. As we were loading the car, she came out for her encore...and we heard it as we pulled out of the parking lot.

On Sunday, we went to see Mary Poppins at the Ohio Theater. It was a lot of fun, and Kendall had never been there before, so it was doubly cool. Plus, we met Sheri's nieces and nephews there, so she could not have been more pleased! Noah went to visit Aunt Nancy for a couple of hours, as we were not about to tempt fate again! But, of course by the time we got home, our weekend was about gone. Barry took to mowing the lawn, and I bathed the kids and got them to bed. Bed was calling me as well!

Today we were up and out of the house bright and early, as it was the last day of Kinderzoo. Noah and I dropped Kendall off and headed to Lowes for some supplies, and then we headed to the body shop for estimates for my van. UGH. $3,063.00. It could be worse, I suppose...but still. I was none too happy about that! Then we picked up the kids pictures at Penneys...be looking for yours in the mail! And that's about it folks! Tonight the plan is to finish the mowing, get the shingles on the chicken coop, and who knows what else? Only time will tell....and I'LL tell YOU tomorrow!

OUCH!

Have you ever done something so stupid you just can't believe you did it? It just swims around in your stomach and just makes you sick that you could do something so DUMB?

Well, here is my big dumb OOOPS for the year. I don't even want to go into how it happened...let's just say I played chicken with a big yellow cement post and the post won.

I KNOW it could be worse.

I KNOW it's just a car.

I KNOW that's what insurance is for.

I KNOW that the most important thing is that I'm ok.

But I am still mad at myself...and wishing I could rewind yesterday and have a do-over.

As if the yucky weather weren't enough....

UGH.

KinderZoo!

Kendall has been taking a class at the zoo on Mondays this June. It is called Kinderzoo, and she LOVES it. And just as importantly, I LOVE it. Noah and I drop her off at 9:00 am, and then we walk the zoo for 3 hours, until we have to pick her up at 12:00. It has been really nice to spend some time one on one time with Noah, and also to get some exercise! My legs are thanking me! And Noah has been really fun. He loves the aquarium, of course...and the flamingoes! When it's time for a snack, we head over to the river and sit by the water...it has just been really nice!

Every Monday, the KinderZoo teachers have a different theme. The first week it was Animals That Swim, last week it was Animals of the Outback, and then this Monday it was Animals of the Wetlands. They go for a walk around the zoo, looking at the various animals, make a craft, have a snack, and then have an animal visitor. Here are some pics of the crafts we have seen so far....

A Standing Flamingo...





A Bird-Eating Spider Bracelet.....




Her own set of Moose antlers....


Who knows what she'll make this Monday!

Don't you wish you could go to KinderZoo too?

Puppet Crazy!

Last night before bedtime, Kendall sat Barry and I down for a puppet show. She had worked hard on all her puppets and was ready to show us her stuff!

This particular show was about a Mama Spider and a Baby Spider. The Baby Spider loved to pick flowers for his Mama. They also went on a trip to a wetland and saw a bear eating some fish. On their way home from the wetlands, they met an alien and took a trip to outerspace. It was quite entertaining! Sometimes I wonder where she gets her great imagination...her ideas are so detailed. I don't remember ever being like that!

And check out all those puppets! The kid LOVES her crafts...and puppets has been at the forefront here lately. She has puppets that she uses to let us know she is sad and mad and happy...(yeah, like we need a puppet face to figure THAT out....) the girl is puppet CRAZY! But you know what? She entertains herself...and then entertains all of us...what could be better?

Maybe the next time you see her you will be lucky enough to be in audience of her latest creation!