Friday, May 24, 2013

The Time Has Come...

The time is now! 
To go Go GO!
We don't care how!


We are going private.  We made this decision after much thought and consideration. 
We will send an invitation to anyone who would like to keep up with us. 
Just leave a comment with your current email if you would like an invite!
The comments will not be shown on the blog so your email will remain private.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Water Fall Videos

I think my favorite part of this video is Bradley chanting, "Do it! Do it!"  Daniel also got a little nervous at the bottom and it took Andy a while to get him to put his feet down.  (First video)
 
We also laughed at Bradley's squeal as he went down with Dad.  They had a lot of fun and Andy didn't do any permanent damage to himself, so it was a successful trip!  Enjoy! (Second video)


 
 
 
 
 
 
May 18, 2013

Go fish...

This first picture doesn't really have anything to do with fishing.  Eliza was playing outside with our neighbor and got chalk all over her!  My favorite is the green on her forehead, but the purple on her hands was pretty good too.  Let's just say that there were small chalk hand prints on my front door for a day or two.  :0)


Now to the fishing!  Andy and the boys thought it would be fun to go fishing last weekend.  They were so excited because they got new fishing poles on the father and sons camp out.  They have been wanting to use them ever since.  We decided to go to the Eno River to fish.  I wasn't too excited since Nathan had had a rough night, but we went anyway.  It turned out to be a fun family outing!


Nathan fell asleep just before we got there, so I stayed in the van with him to let him sleep.  He slept for about 45 minutes and then we went in search of the fisher men.  There they are...through the trees!


Dad, Daniel and Bradley getting worms on their poles to start fishing again.


It was a little bit muddy next to the river as you can see from Bradley's backside.


Daniel and Bradley getting ready to cast out.  One of the boys got their line tangled in a tree and when Andy went to get it untangled he found a snake!  It was in the branches about eye level and it blended in because it was green.  Andy got really close before it moved.  I feel bad I missed that.  I am sure it was good!  He chased it away and we didn't see anymore.
 

Dad fishing with his pole.  There were a lot of turtles swimming in the water.  Andy kept casting out in front of them.  One turtle stole his worm.


Nathan and Eliza having a snack.  Eliza isn't the most patient fisher girl.  She does like to go though.  It might have been more fun if they had caught something.


"This is a good cracker!"


I had to keep a close eye on Nathan.  He kept crawling to the edge of the blanket and picking up little twigs and dirt.  He thought they looked good.  Unfortunately they don't taste good.


Eliza was ready to fish again, so she took over some one's pole.  No luck here!


Eliza in a new location hoping her luck with change...


it didn't!  She did catch a rock. 
Andy thought he was going to have to go in after the hook since it was one of his nice ones.  He was getting ready to take off his shoes and socks when Eliza pulled hard enough to get the hook loose.  With no luck for over an hour they decided to pack everything up and head to our favorite spot...the water fall!


I loved this bush that was in bloom next to the trail.  It was really pretty.



Bradley was the first one next to the water!


Daniel flexing his muscles before crossing the river.


The water was the highest we have ever seen it.  Eliza wasn't happy that it was a little chilly. 
I think she was nervous about the water too.


She cried because she wanted to go with Andy, but really she was too nervous.  Poor girl!  She just couldn't make up her mind.


"It's not deep.  Look I am standing!"


Bradley scampered right a cross the the more shallow waters.


Daniel was a little more cautious and wanted some help.


Once Eliza saw that Daniel had made it safely she decided she really did want to go.


Thanks Dad!


The kids were looking for twigs to use as boats to send down the smaller water falls.
Dad, Daniel, Eliza and Bradley


Dad decided that it was time to go down the water fall.  He had to work his way there though.  The water was a little bit chilly.


"Are you ready yet Dad?"
He went down first on his own.  Once he was at the bottom there were little fish that were pecking at his legs.  He kept saying, "The fish are messing with my legs!"  After that he got the boys to ride down on his lap.


Daniel went first.  He thought it was a lot of fun.  Bradley went second.  He kept squealing really loud and laughing every time the water came up to his chest.  This is Andy and Bradley floating down below the fall.


Dad and Daniel getting ready to go again.  They decided that all three of them needed to go at once.  They tried to talk Eliza in to it but she kept saying, "No thanks Dad.  No thanks!"  We got some fun videos of them going down the water fall.  Nathan and I just watched from the side.  Next time we will have to take our swim suites too. 
By the time we started back to the van  the sky was covered with dark gray clouds.  We made it back to the van and were just getting situated when we heard some really loud thunder.  It was really deep and almost shook the van.  Of course the kids squealed.  Then we heard pitter-patter-pitter-patter coming closer threw the trees.  We just had time to get into the van when the first big drops came raining down!  It came down in buckets.  The kids called them Grandpa drops.  :0) Because the only thing bigger than Daddy drops are Grandpa drops right.
 
May 18, 2013




Thursday, May 16, 2013

Field Trip to the Zoo

This year I made it to one of Daniel's field trips.  It happened to be the field trip to the zoo.  We had to be to the school by 7:15am so we could drive to the zoo.  Margaret was good to stay with Eliza and Nathan while I was gone.  Marek also helped my taking Bradley to school later that morning.  I drove myself to the zoo so that I could get back faster.  Daniel liked riding the bus, but he wanted to ride home with me.  When we got there we divided up into groups.  Since several parents were able to come I only had Daniel and one of his friends Maurice.  They are both good kids and relatively quiet.  I was lucky!


First we found the alligators.  This one was pretty interested in all the kindergartners on the bridge.  He climbed in the water and started swimming towards us.  He was only about 5 feet long though.  Not too big.


More alligators sunning themselves.  Daniel really wanted to see a big one.


Just around the corner was the big one!  Daniel was very excited. 


Daniel, Maurice, Mariyah, and Adrian checking out the swamp boat.


Daniel and Maurice checking out this maze of twisted sticks.  It was pretty impressive!

 
Checking out the Harbor Seals.  They kept swimming past the window upside down.  The kids really enjoyed watching them.
 

Daniel and Maurice checking out the snow cave that a polar bear might use.  It is pretty spacious inside.


My favorite was the polar bear.  This was his first day back on exhibit after a two year stay at the Cleveland Zoo.  We were down at the underwater observations window when they threw something in from the top.  The polar bear swam over to it and pushed up over to the rocks so he could eat it.
 

I love how the bear looks bigger and a lot closer under the water.


We headed up top to see what he was eating.  It was the top of a 50 gal. drum that they smeared peanut butter on and threw in for a treat.  He really liked it!  They are building a new exhibit for him and want to get some more polar bears to eventually start breeding. 


After the polar bear exhibit we stopped for a snack and to play on the "bug" playground.  The kids loved it!
Daniel on a ladybug.


Maurice climbing a vine.


We ate our lunch over by the bison and elk exhibit.  We didn't see any elk, but there was a very large bison relaxing in the sun.  The log he is next to is at least 4 feet tall.   If only he had turned around.


Maurice with the Buffalo statue.


Next we moved on to the geyser.  It erupts every 5 minutes and we were there just in time.  We were wishing the wind was blowing so we could get misted by the geyser.  No such luck!


The grizzly bear was pretty big, but he was sleeping in the shade and we couldn't get a good picture.  So Daniel decided to get one with this grizzly instead.  "Keep your head up!"
 
 
One of the workers over by the polar bear told us to check out the baby gorillas.  After Daniel and Maurice heard there were baby gorillas they didn't want to stop until we saw them.  The daddy was sleeping in the shade right next to the window.  You can't tell very well from this picture but he is BIG!
 

There are two baby gorillas.  One was crawling all over it's mother.  I know how she feels!  The one in this picture is just to the left of his mom in the grass.  They were too far away to get a good picture, but they are super cute!


The elephants are also getting something new for their exhibit, so this was as good as it got. 


Daniel and Maurice couldn't resist trying to ride this baby elephant.  We did check to make sure it wasn't too hot first!  :0)


"Cheese!"


We watched this giraffe slowly spread his legs so he could eat the grass. 


The zebras weren't interested in eating.  They wanted out of the sun!


Daniel checking the map to make sure we didn't miss anything.


The lions were one of the last stops before we headed out to find the bus.  This female was laying in the shade relaxing.  Then she got up and walked over to the male and laid back down.  She had just gotten comfortable when the male got up and walked away from her!  How rude!



As you leave the zoo you cross a large bridge that goes over part of a small lake.  When you get in to the middle of  the bridge you can see turtles coming up to the surface for air.  This is a picture of a LARGE snapping turtle.  It's shell was bigger than a basket ball.  I haven't ever seen one that big before.  I was glad I wasn't swimming with him.
 
We had a great day at the zoo, and it was fun to spend time with just Daniel.  As much as we love Nathan and Eliza they do need a lot of attention.  :0)  Thanks to Margaret we were able to have a great day at the zoo and Nathan and Eliza had fun at home.  Thanks again Margaret!
May 15, 2013