family biking @ da park

So, our plan was to go camping this weekend as a family. Well,... that didn't quite happen. We were all packed up and ready to go, and i was running last minute errands with the kids before heading out to set up camp. That's when i started feeling twinges of what ended up being one of the most NASTY stomach virus' i've ever gotten. We headed home and i had Darien watch the kids while i started,.. err,... praying to the porcelain god. 3 hours later, I finally bailed out and called marke home from work because i was so bad off.

So, we didn't go camping, but we set up A and D in the backyard with a tent for the night, and had a little campfire to do smores and hotdogs on. Not quite what our original plan was, but fun nonetheless.

To make up for our lack of family camping, we packed all the bikes and bigwheels in the van this afternoon and did some family biking at the park instead. M & D took some playing cards and played a little 'War' in the shade while taking a break. D has REALLY gotten into playing cards lately,... but ya gotta watch him as he tends to slip cards into his pockets to use for later.


C played quite a bit on the playground; i've realized lately that i don't take these younger 2 kids to the park anywhere NEAR as often as i took the first 2. I've just gotten a lot more busy driving around to activities, lessons, and scouts in the afternoon and evening, so the morning trip to the park has gotten the shaft. I'll have to see if i can't resurrect it though, now that we're heading into fall,... or maybe switch it into a walk through our back woods, or a trip to toddler time at the library.


I had gone out and bought C a little big-wheel all to herself - she LOVED the princess pattern, and she and E raced each other all over the park paths. They were both pretty cut-throat in their competitiveness. Interesting to see in a 2 and 4 year old.



The leaves have started their changing, although with the weather, it's been a little less color and more just withering off the tree. It's been a drier autumn than normal. Still fun for pics though, and i actually managed to get one of the older 2 being somewhat nice to one another. (a nice change from the standard cats-n-dogs behavior ;-)



There's a little creek running by the bike path around the park. Most of it has dried up, but there was still enough there for the kids to play around and goof off with. Or to show-off with, in Darien's case.

PONY RIDE!

We got to go visit over at the Spark's family on thursday. Had an awesome cookout, and let the kids ride on their little pony. It's a stout little pony, and is currently pregnant, which makes her even more round than normal. The pony is Very good natured, and is wonderful around the kids. We had a rough time keeping the kids from approaching her from the back; they were SO excited!! But Brown Sugar (the pony) didn't bat an eyelash.



E and C just LOVED being able to ride Brown Sugar! They couldn't stay away from her even when it was time to eat (and they were RAVENOUS!)

Sister sparks had gone ALL out - got the kids zoopals plates and plasticware, and dora and diego cups. She even had a small pumpkin for each of them and halloween candy (caramels! YUM!!) She also had some garden fresh vegetables - cute little kid-sized tomatoes that she cut up for each of the (un-appreciative) kids. I still haven't been able to talk the kids into trying tomatoes - can't say as i blame them though; i'm still not all that fond of them myself unless they're the sweet little cherry tomatoes.

A enjoyed being out side and picking flowers from around their land. They had a gorgeous house and property; out on a one-lane road. Totally secluded, up on a hill overlooking the rolling forested landscape. If i lived out there, i don't think i'd ever go inside. they also had a neat porch swing that all the kids went nuts over - very relaxing,... although not at the speeds the kids liked to take it!

FHE

So, we have Family Home Evening on Tuesdays, because that's the day that works the best for us. Tonight after our lesson, was UNO night! (always a favorite with the kids.)

fun site...

So, i've always wanted to try one of those virtual makeover sites... and Finally found one via my loving sister-in-law. (MaryKay) So,... should i go darker, shorter, touseled, up-do, back to the blond that i once used to be back in the good old days. Or,... maybe i should just actually wear makeup once in a while ;-)

darker

i used to be blond

shorter

up-do


keep it natural, add highlights, and go touseled / fun-loving

Swimming???!!

So, this morning, the two little kids got the grand idea of swimming in the little kiddie pool out on the deck. It was still a little chilly, so they didn't last too long, but they had a marvelous time while it lasted. There's something about playing with water that just fascinates them; if the weather were nicer they would have lasted for hours!


After they finished up their water-fest, i had them help clean up the house. E headed into his room and made his bed all on his own without being asked (YEAH!!!) He did an awesome job too! (isn't he CUTE!)

Pack Meeting...

So, i ran the pack meeting tonight, and had the privilege of introducing our New Cubmaster and New Wolf/Bear Leader - i'm SO happy we've finally got people called into those positions. It's a big weight off. I'm still going to stay active in the Cub Scouts, i'm working on forming a committee to support the program. The Committee should also be able to facilitate communication between the Richmond and Berea Primary Presidencies so that everyone knows what is going on in the cub scout program.

D enjoyed the pack meeting; as did A. E and C ran M ragged; i don't think he had a moments peace to even think of enjoying the meeting. Hopefully it'll be better next month when i'm not running the show.


D is still working on his arrow points for wolf; he's doing pretty good, but with school going on, it's gotten a little slower in our progress. This pic is from when Uncle B and his boys last came down at the August. D had the BEST time with his cousins: J and J, and particularly enjoyed trying out their mini-4-wheeler. They had a BLAST!!

Spoonbread...

So, this past weekend was the Spoonbread festival here in Berea. We started off our day by D and I running in the Spoonbread 5K together. It was D's FIRST 5K race. We've been training for a couple of weeks now, and i wasn't sure how things would go on race day itself, but i must say D really impressed me. He made it all the way to the 1 mile marker before even having to walk; our time at that marker was 9min. 48sec. The rest of the race was a walk/jog for us - we finished with a time of 36min. 32sec. Not bad for an 8year old's first 5K. We passed by the free tethered hot air balloon rides while we were running, and D was sad we wouldn't make it back in time to go on one. Maybe next year.

After the 5K, i headed home and relived M of the other kids so he could go to the gun show up in Lexington. I packed up all the kids and took them back to the festival. They had a multitude of booths set up for the festival; all over in the memorial park and in front of the Folk Center. The kids picked up TONS of free stuff from vendors, and samples from food places. They also had the requisite arts and crafts that you'll find at any berea festival - very nice, but a bit overpriced. They had a HUGE kiddieland area where we got to see Ronald McDonald do some magic tricks. D volunteered to 'help', and had the roughest time with the 'magic' wand.

They also had four different huge inflatable rides for the kids to frolic on for free. We hit there first thing in the morning before the crowds, so the kids would finish one and run straight back around to the front to go again, hardly any lines at all! I sent them off together in pairs - one older kid with one younger. It worked out really well, and D and A were a marvelous help to me. I'd pulled out my group of 4 florescent yellow t-shirts that morning and had them dressed the same which made it MUCH easier to keep track of them all.

The local 4-H chapter had also commandeered the Russell Acton Folk Center and set up 'Cloverville.' They had a 'corn crib' sandbox set up immediately inside the door, and all the kids just LOVED playing in it; nice to cool off after the hot sun outside. They also had a small family fitness area set up with stop watches to time yourself on different exercises. They had a cornhole area (can't avoid that here in KY :-) and then a small target area for nerf rifle and archery - D went NUTS over that! A and E enjoyed trying to 'milk' the cow they had setup, and D and A were old enough to make their own personal-sized spoonbread in their 'kitchen.'

They had live music interspersed throughout the festival, along with tons of entertainers and a couple of different clogging groups (yes, we are in BEREA, KY!) We finished off our stay at the festival by going to the small parade, led off by a large contingent from the motorcycle show. All-in-all, we had an awesome time!!

M had a good time at the gun show too, and ran into one old co-worker, and one current co-worker, and ended up inviting both of them down that evening to grill out with us. (i was SO glad that we'd done our Saturday work on Friday night!)