Camping

On Tuesday Zoey wanted to make a fort, but it was almost bedtime and I didn't want to get started playing so close to bedtime. Therefore, I promised I would make them one this weekend. Before Zoey and the boys arrived home from school on Friday, I had this fort ready for them. Kyler and Zoey were quite excited, and I believe Jake was too (he just doesn't want to seem impressed by things Kyler and Zoey like).

I solved the saggy middle problem by using some bamboo pole we have hanging around. I wanted to use our electric camping lantern to keep it lit inside, but the batteries are dead, so we used flashlights placed strategically around so it wasn't spooky.

And because we were camping, we needed to have roasted marshmallows.

After we put the fire out, it was time to settle down for bed. Kyler and Zoey had their sleeping bags and such ready, but then they became a little scared and decided to wait in my bed for me. I found this out by following the trail of lights left on and there they were--asleep. (I didn't feel like moving them, so I squished a pillow inbetween Kyler and I so I wouldn't get pushed out of bed.)

Something is different...

Notice anything different about Jake?

No? Hmmm... How about now?

Oh, well that is because you have to look deep into his eyes.

Still no?

Well, today he has contacts in! He said he was having some blurry vision in school, and it was time for me to have my eyes checked again, so we went to the eye doc today. Turns out, Jake is near-sighted. We talked to the doctor about options for Jake. I am not sure he is ready for contacts, as there is much work involved. But after all, I decided to let him try them out. He has a set to use for the next week for us to evaluate it.

He did a good job putting them in though. It probably only took about 30 min. to get both in for the first time. Then he had to take one out and he just popped it right back in. Jake is excited about it. Just in case though, we ordered a set of glasses also. I'll get a picture when they get in next week. We'll go back next week to talk to the doctor and see how he is doing with them and if they are fitting properly.

Then end of an era...

Think back, a long time ago. Now, back a bit more to when Jake was, say, 2 years old. Do you remember when he had a yellow rain jacket and green froggy boots? (I think I have a picture somewhere of him in them. You know, one of those old-timey ones that you actually had to print to see what it looked like?) Well, Jake wore them until his toes curled up in them and we finally had to hide them to stop him from wearing them.

Then, along comes Kyler Kid. And out the boots come again. Same story as Jake. Wore them until his toes curled. Except when we hid them, Kyler found them. Two or three times! His walk was much funnier than Jake's, because Kyler wore them longer. Finally we were able to hide them good enough for him to forget about them.

And now Zoey. Zoey has worn the boots until the very end. When they started to come apart, daddy, the good daddy he is, duct taped them. When that tape wore off, daddy found new tape The tape has been different each time. Once it was green tape, then animal print, and finally pink tape. But now, then end has come.

I don't think we can recover from the final disaster with them. Although, Zoey isn't ready yet to let us say the final farewell. They are in the top of her closet (where Kyler can reach if he stands on a chair) for her to look at. It's so hard to say goodbye to dear friends...

Puerto Rico!!!

As you know, Russ went to Puerto Rico this past November with the Air Force. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it...And for my birthday, I was able to join him for a few days!! (Best birthday...EVER!!)

For my birthday party, we took a nighttime sea kayaking trip to Bio-luminescent Bay. Because it was at night, and in the water, we didn't get any pictures, but it was the most AMAZING adventure! (See some pics here http://www.biobay.com/ ) First, we had to paddle togther--a challenge. Although we did get the hang of it, I still caused some problems. Anyway, the point being, we made it to the Bay. I LOVED it! I would go back again and again if we could! Watching the water light up, and sparkle on my hand...WOW!

Then we went to Old San Juan and toured one of the forts. There are two forts on the island and one took 300 years to build, the other took 170 years. (It wouldn't have taken so long, but every time Puerto Rico was invaded, the marauders made changes to the fort.) We spent quite a bit of time there. Then we went shopping and to lunch. I like plantains. They were delicious!

Finally, we played at the beach. The beach was just out the back of the hotel, and it was a lovely, sandy beach. (One thing we discovered, kissing in the waves isn't as romantic as it looks in the movies. In reality, you get salt water up your nose and your feet washed out from under you.)

The best part of the trip? Hmmm...sea kayaking? Shopping? Probably realizing that I do like to spend time with Russ. So often it is a rush as we pass each other on the way out the door, and it is always noisy, that it is easy to forget that I really do like this man that I married.

Enjoy the pictures!

(We decided this can be our new beach house. Sure it is supposed to be a hotel, but that only means it is big enough to have visitors! Oh, and plenty of parking--a must.)

Holidays

They are jumbled up, but here are a few pics. Zoey's Thanksgiving program is at the end of the Christmas pics...(and yes, they all got new PJ's and socks and underwear on Christmas Eve...it's tradition! LOL!)

Halloween!!!

Just a quick post, mostly pictures today. Halloween was fun! We went to about three neighborhoods trick or treating. Zoey kept saying, "Three more houses and then one more." (That is how we get her to eat sometimes, "Four more bites, then one more." It works.)

We really try to make sure the kids all say Thank You to each person who gives them a treat. At one house, the kids were running down the driveway and I asked if they had said thank you. The boys said they did, but Zoey had forgotten. The woman was still at her door and Zoey wanted to go back and thank her. Before we got to the door, she went inside and Z was so upset. We rang the doorbell again and Z said thank you, but the woman was confused. I explained what had happened, and the woman thought it was so sweet, she gave Z another treat! See, good things will always come from doing the right thing!

Kyler was really excited when people knew he was Bobba Fette from Star Wars! He also had a great time and was really fun to be with. He is fun to tease sometimes because he gets giggly and silly.

Jake was very reluctant to go, but I didn't want to leave him alone with strangers coming to the house. He went as a "zombie" that hadn't fully changed yet. The mummy costume wasn't terribly successful last time and took longer than anticipated to get him ready for. But in the end, he had a good time also.

Now the pics...

Ready to go!

This year I thought it would be easier to paint our pumpkins...alas, I was wrong. It takes alot of white paint to cover the orange of a pumpkin. Jake carved his though, and did it faster than we did with painting...Kyler's is an alien, Zoey's is a kitty, and mine is a spider (but the legs keep falling off).

For Kyler and Zoey's teachers...

Kyler and Z both had two teachers they wanted to take something for, but I didn't have time to make 4 shoes, so they each took a shoe and a cauldron for teachers, and their classmates each received a skull with treats inside. I really like how everything turned out.

As soon as the camera came out, Zoey was ready with a pose. They are are awesome and I love them to pieces!

Good thing they brought the sled!!

When Russ and the kids moved here and we were unpacking the moving truck, I asked why in the world they brought the sled with them? Well, today I know why.

And in addition to that question, I asked Russ why he had to get a 4-wheeler for Kyler when he was so little. We have more than gotten our money out of it, and we still have a long way to go with it!

Zoey getting on for a ride. (Kyler was stopped, so she wasn't trying to jump on a moving target. We all know poor, little Zoey inherited her mom's coordination.)

Kyler rolled Jake off when they went down the hill.

(Digital cameras aren't great when you want an action shot.)

Waiting her turn...not patiently though...

My little bobble head.

The 4-wheeler doesn't really have enough power for all three of the kids to "ride" and go very fast, but they still had alot of fun.