Saturday

And finally the kids are reunited with the parents.  All are happy.  keira was actually asleep at this point in the car trip to Phillie. Our trip to the airport was iffy with terrible traffic but we made it in time.  I wanted to get a picture of the reunion but got all into the moment.  Then the plane was delayed a few hours so everyone had a long day.  LOVE is grand!!  11 days Papa and I will never forget.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Finally the kids got to go to The bug Box.  Papa took all three by himself.

One More Story is a very cool subscription Website where the kids have listened to stories.  Here they are listening to Kiss a Cow.

Keira's last bath at Grandma's house.

The week ended with a marshmallow roast on the back patio.

Thursday, July 29

Grandma got to spend some time with just Jaden doing some errands.  We went to the library, to my school to get a few things done and then to a Auto Body Shop to get an estimate on repairs.  He talked my vice principal's "ear off" but since he has a 6 year old son, he understood.  I am not sure the Body Shop manager was so cool with Jaden getting behind the desk and getting between him and his computer.  Jaden did come back around but not before asking him for something to drink.  No luck.  After lunch, the boys watched The Penquins of Madagascar while Keira slept.  Then off to the last day at the city Pool.  Allt hree kids are so comfortable in the water now, it is great to see.  Jaden makes friends in a minute, Cameron is always trying to learn a new skill like swimming down to the bottom of the pool, Keira likes to be in the water so much she bends her knees so the water comes up to her shoulders while she plays in the shallow end.

Sloppy Joes did not go over very well at dinner tonight. I hadn't had them in years and certainly enjoyed mine.  Then I took the kids to Mac Donalds to use a coupon for a free ice cream cone the boys got from Nature Camp.  The store's ice cream machine was broken so we got parfaits instead. I hate to say this but three of them did not behave well at the playground. It seemed every few minutes they found some way to be doing something they should not do- Keira was eating Jaden parfait and then found a broom in the corner to play with.  I look over and the boys are walking on the tables.  After we discuss this they are climbing on the poles that hold up the second layer.  I know they can't read to know this is not ok but....  Then the constant, can we buy a drink? a happy meal? some chicken nuggets? etc.  Along with the fact that the play area was freezing cold, I am sorry to say this was not the highlight of my day.

Wednesday July 28

Everyone got up late in the morning.  But we had time to get dressed and off to see a 10:00 free movie at the movie theatre.  Jaden was so full he ate very little breakfast but surprisely was hungry as the monie was getting started.  Luckily Grandma had brought grapes.  The boys enjoyed Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel.  Keira sat through most of it but only because she ate her bag of grapes and Papa's bag too.  Grandma and Keira did run up and down the hallway outside of the theatre for about 30 minutes. 
For lunch Grandma made messy Nutella and banana wraps but they tasted good.  The boys decided to play outside while Keira slept.  I was very pleased to sit on the couch and watch The View.  But I did have to get up at least 5 times to supply them with needed items(I did not want them to track dirt and mud in the house): more water in the watering can for the water guns, chalk, more water, the army men, etc. Well I did squeeze in  about  35 minutes of peace and quiet but then it took me at least that long to wash them down as they had turned into "mud monsters".  Not really a good thing as Papa had told them not to make and play in mud.  I know it would be better if we had more grass but it is what it is. I wish I had taken a picture but certainly did not want to glorify this activity.

Then just to complete the "hat trick"  Keira's diaper was so poopey, I decided to put her in the tub then rather than later. 

The boys changed back into their clothes and Papa took them to the Burger King playground for an hour.  These pictures were taken a different day but same kids, same playground.

Then back to the house for some Wii.  Jaden had a hard time learning to bowl but did figure it our but enjoyed golf and boxing more.  Keira got into to everything while the Wii game was going on and I was making dinner.  I think her arms are 10 feet long.

Unfortunately the boys are in a bit of trouble with Papa now for playing around and bothering each other instead of going to sleep.

Tuesday, July 27th

Keira had playdate with 3 year old Ava, a friend's granddaughter, at a park downtown.  She talked to most of the kids there and played on most of the equipment getting very dirty.  Then Grandma left her home with the three boys and went to lunch with a girl friend. 
In the morning, the boys played with claydough making bowls.  They also put on a show.

While Papa was at work, the boys watched some TV saving their energy for the Fredericksburg fair.What a fun time we had.   First we saw the chickens, cows, goats and pigs. 

Then after a clown show with cotton candy we headed to the rides and games.  Cameron would have played all the games and we had to say no many times but he did really enjoy winning a stuffed fish by hitting 2 out of three balloons with darts.

Keira rode the train like one of the big kids.  Jaden was hesistant this early in the evening but rode it at the very end of the night as we were on our way out of the fair.

Jaden rode a ski doo while Cameron rode the Dragon roller coaster.  Jaden says he liked th Bumper cars the best.  He rode with Grandma and was not quite tall enough to drive but had a blast. Cameron rode by himself and got the hang of it after a while.

Of course Jaden enjoyed playing on the construction equipment.

A late bed night for all kids but they slept late in the morning too.

Monday

Ron put the kids to work this morning.  I was almost cool enough to work in the yard.  Then we packed up and were off to Mott's Run Reservior.  You can see the kids had a treat on the way there.

They each had a turn with Papa in his kayak. 

After a picnic lunch we took a short walk along the trail and spend some time in the Nature Center. The lake is surrounded by green forests.  Very peaceful. 

When we got home, Jaden and Keira finished the naps they started in the car.  Cameron gave Croquet a try.  Of course, he was not happy later in the day when he had to put it all away. The boys played in the back  yard and got so dirty Jaden had to bath before dinner.

After dinner Papa took all three to the "Toy Store".  They each picked out a wonderful $1.00 toy: Army men for Cameron and Army vehicles with a few men too for Jaden.  Could be hours of fun and if not, oh well?!

Both boys liked Cool Whip on their chocolate ice cream before bed. Jaden is asleep right now and Cameron is playing in the tub.  All is well.

Sunday

Keira had her usual breakfast, cereal with milk on it and a banana.  She enjoyed playing again with Connor and watching TV with him too.  She was introduced to a new Disney show called Imagination   ????? Still she preferred his mild cup to her own.  We left Todd and Megan's about 11:15 and by 11:30 she was asleep.  We pulled in our driveway and she was still sound  asleep.  Since the weather was so cool, I just brought the Sunday paper into the car and read it in the front seat for about 30 mintues while she sleep. 

Papa, Cameron and Jaden took a hike this morning to Alum Springs Park where teh boys had been for Nature camp. Grandpa was exhausted when they got home.

The neighbor kids came over to get Cameraon and Jaden to play so Keira stayed inside with Papa.  The kids jumped on the trampoline, Jaden tried his hand at crochet, and Cam played a bit of softball.

After dinner we made peanut butter cookies.  While they were baking and cooling Grandma played "The Matching Game" with the boys.  The cookies were delicious.  Grandma let them each  have three, telling them this was quite a treat to have three.  Cameron then asked for another, and then asked again, and then asked again and after the 4th time he finally gave up. 

The boys listened to stories on the Website One More Story.  Jaden choose a story about a bear on a bike while Cameron choose a nonfiction story about Owl Babies. Jaden now has his Borders sheet complete with 10 books and Cam just has two more to go.

Saturday

Keira and Grandma headed to Leesburg on Saturday morning to see "Baby Connor".  This delightful graqnddaughter slept almost the entire trip which was great because the traffic was bad in a few places.  Todd and Megan had gone on a hike while Ashley took the first babysitting shift.  Keira enjoyed playing with Connor's toys and drinking out of his cup every chance she got.  Her arms are now about 10 feet long.  She reached my cell phone when I was not looking and before I got to her had deleted all my contacts.  We all know she is a smart child.

Connor was very jealous at any time that I held Keira.  She went to sleep in the portacrib like an angel and slept until 7:30 A.M.  She does talk in her sleep.

Friday

Papa took breakfast duty again today while Grandma slept until 8:00.  The boys went off to their last day of Nature Camp.  Later, Keira went with Grandma to a fabric store and then to pick up the boys.  Papa had lunch ready because the boys were eager to go swimming.  After a fast lunch (and no Skype from the parents) Grandma, Cam and Jaden were off to Devra's pool to swim with Cadence.  The boys loved it!!  Jaden went under the water over and over and let Grandma throw him into the water.  He raced Cadence once and won.  Cameron jumped off the diving board over and over.   

Grandma is not a professional photographer but here is Cameron jumping off the diving board.

Keira napped and then played and played with Papa.  I hear there was a lot of chasing and kissin'.

After dinner, Jaden loved the sweet Italian Sausage,  it was chocolate ice cream time again.  I just don't know whose idea it was to have it in cones.

Then reading time. 

Keira is sound asleep. 

Jaden is playing Legos for the first time today while Cameron has his turn reading.

After the kids are all in bed Grandma and Papa can make some hotel reservations for our trip to New Hampshire.  This town is on the coast.  Hopefully it will not be quite as hot as it has been here.

We will stay at this inn for a couple of nights, eat at this restaurant and go see a show.

Thursday, July 29

Papa dropped the boys off at Nature Camp today.  Grandma took Keira to "Splish Splash" Story Time at the library.  She did great with just one sneaky trip over to the beach balls.  After that she got away from me twice in the library itself as I chased after her.  We have to work on holding hands.Then she went with me to do a few errands.  After so much work, she fell asleep in her carseat at 11:15.  Papa picked up the boys from camp.  After lunch they went to the pool while Keira and I napped.  Jaden is swimming farther and going under the water better every day.

After Keira's nap we went to the mail box to get the mail. 

Then she enjoyed her frozen yogurt popsicle snack.

The boys watched a  couple of cartoons after their hard day at the pool.  You can see they were "plugged in".

Devra and Cadence stopped by for a bit before dinner.  Miraculously some "summer bunny" came and dropped of some "Easter Eggs".  The kids had a blast searching the front yard for eggs.  The neighbors probably thought we are crazy.

Dinner was McDonalds- sorry mommy, we did not eat healthy for this meal.  The kids had a blast at the playspace. We came home to have chocolate ice cream cones.  Keira did a great job eating hers but did wear much of it.  But the bath took care of all that.

After Keira was off to bed, Cameron read Go, Dog, Go to Grandma.  He did a great job sounding out words and using the pictures to help him decode the words.  I was very pleased with how he read.  Then Jaden and Grandma read a funny alphabet book. Each boy watched a Bug video when it was not their turn to read with Grandma. 

All five of us had a good day today!!

Wednesday July 28

Coming back from their hike to the creek at Nature Camp. The theme today was Recyling Fun. 

One of the teachers told me a funny story from yesterday.  Yesterday's theme was spiders.  The teacher asked the group, "What preys on spiders?" and Jaden answered, "God."   

They made "paper"!!

While Keira was napping the boys watched Hotel for Dogs.

After nap time, everyone had a fruit chiller(and 1/2 a banana).  Keira loved it so much, she cried when I took it from her for a minute to push the icey up to the top so she would eat it all.  Keira is now watching Dora and the boys are playing happily in the backyard with some water and toys.  They will need to be sprayed clean before they come in the house.