Calvin's Trip, Madeline's Cookies, and Anna's Owies

Calvin went with his dad to run errands the other day and they stopped to see the trains. Living in Richmond provides us with many opportunities to see trains, almost daily. We have a station downtown where the AmTrak train stops but we are also a stop for the coal trains coming from West Virginia to the shipyards in Norfolk (that's on the coast, about an hour past Richmond for you westerners). The kids love to see trains!

We made sugar cookies the other day. Madeline was in her high chair, that just hooks to the side of the table. I stepped into the kitchen for 2 seconds to put another pan in the oven and came back to find her having a great time on my table. It probably doesn't teach her that walking on the table is bad if I call Mike in to come take her picture!

Anna Elise has had several mishaps this week. She fell in the parking lot and got some really bad road rash on her knee. It bled. When she looked down and saw the blood she just burst into tears. Two days later we were in Walmart and she opened the bathroom door and pulled the door right over her big toe - it took off a little chunk of nail and lots of skin! Today Calvin slammed the closet door on her hand, it was swollen and she has a nice bruise forming. She likes band aids so I guess it isn't all bad!

Also, last week we rearranged our house. The small 'sun room' that we have off of our living room used to be the office. The rule was the kids couldn't go inside, but they did, constantly! Upstairs is our bedroom and what used to be a second living area with the T.V and some of the kids toys. We just always had toys everywhere and they never stayed out of my stuff! So we moved the office upstairs and turned that room into a playroom for the kids. So far it is working out very well. All the toys are in one room and the kids are never allowed upstairs, so we have a 'safe' place for ourselves and to run our business!

Here are a few pictures of our new playroom. It's not very big, it's probably more of a toy room, there isn't a lot of space to play!

Water Fun!

We've had some VERY hot weather. It got up to the 100's every day for 5 days in a row. The problem was it didn't really cool down at night, our lows were upper 70's! When the AC can't keep your house cool, then it's too hot!
After it cooled down a little to the 90's we let the kids go outside and play in Calvin's birthday volcano! He and Anna Elise love it. I don't even bother to put Madeline's swimming suit on anymore. She does like to swim in a pool, but she doesn't care to be sprayed!

Below is Calvin sitting on the volcano trying to block the spray, the next picture is him learning his lesson. Mike was so proud of himself for catching that second shot!



Here's Madeline staying dry





Here is Anna Elise 'reading' to Madeline before bed. Anna Elise can't quite read yet, but she has most of our books memorized and Madeline doesn't know the difference. Madeline LOVES books!

I Survived!

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks. I've been preparing for our tax audit. We had it this morning and it went relatively well. I'm just relieved that we are done with that. It's nice to have my life back!

I first need to post some pictures from our trip to the zoo! I promised to on my last blog - so here they are!


watching the Elephant The Pandas were the favorite!

The kids being Tigers! watching meerkats (I think)

The kids got new bikes several weeks ago. They enjoy riding them on an old garage foundation

in our backyard. Occassionaly we take them down to the park to ride or take 'family walks' and they can ride on the roads and alleys.

Anna Elise fixed her own hair! Calvin dressed himself (his shirt is wrongside out)



Here they are together, barely avoiding a crash!


Since Madeline doesn't have a bike, I thought I would post a picture of her coloring. She LOVES to color and although she is pretty indiscriminate about what paper she writes on, she is very good about not writing on my floor, couch, table, walls, etc (unlike her older brother!)