Natalie's Performance

Natalie did a summer musical camp. Each day for 2 weeks the "campers" worked on songs and skits for a performance the last day of camp. This year the perfomance was BeBop with Aesop. She had a great time and the performance was wonderful!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The "H" thing in the yard...

Nat and Natalie were outside in the front yard putting plants in the front planter, when Natalie came inside to tell me ... "Mommy, Daddy said I needed to come inside because there's something outside. Something with an "H," some sort of "hore" or something." My quick mind knew what she was talking about b/c those "hores" got after me the other day and I replied "Do you mean a hornet?" She snaps her fingers and says "Yeah, that's it." Then I tell her to be careful not to say the other word (you know, the "hore" word only with a "w" in it), that it's not very nice. She then asks what does it mean. I tell her "When you turn 16, that's when I'll tell you what it means." Apparently, my talk with her didn't get through to her all that well. The next morning they headed out to finish the planting and Natalie says to Nat "We can't go out there, what if those horeing things are still out there?" Kids!

Our trip to Ohio...

We took a trip up to Ohio to visit Nat's grandparents and cousins. We stopped on the way and stayed in a hotel after we got too tired after driving 12 hours. The way home we made it back in one day (it took 15 hours)! The girls were wonderful and traveled so well. Bless the creators of portable DVD players, Nintendo DS, teethers, and those little crinkly toys that hang down from car seat handles!! We enjoyed our time with family (in glorious 80 degree weather). Nat's cousin Logan and her husband Derek have 2 cuties that Natalie and Hope had a great time playing with. We just sat back and watched the kids play, the cows moo, and made lots of smores!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A new list maker in the house....

Natalie has decided she needs to go ahead and pack for a trip we are taking. I explain to her that we have several days to pack and she has plenty of time. Then she tries to debate me on how many days we have until we leave - do you count today or the day of travel. We finally agreed to just leave it at we have a few days to get ready and she should make a list of things she wants to take with her. BIG, HUGE mistake on my part and I don't know how to backpeddle my way out of it. I had to confiscate her list so far that included 16 stuffed animals and a jacket incase she gets cold while she's inside. Don't ask me why, it's just something she would put on a list. We agreed she didn't need her jacket and I said that it was too many animals, that I would agree that she could take 5 small ones. She came back with she would take her 4 foot long polar bear off the list "if that would make you feel better mommy." I told her I'd ponder her list and we'd talk about it later. I have a feeling the list might meet a mysterious fate of some sort. All pencils and paper might have to go missing as well.

Summer Enrichment Workshop

Natalie's 3 week adventure with SEW has come to an end. They had the parent presentations today. She had a really great time and took a courses called Mother Earth, Father Sky (about Native American) and Mummies in Pyramids (about Egyptology). She is now a walking encylopedia on both subjects. Highlights were making mummies with oranges and potatoes (we won't be keeping it very long, uck), making scarabs, making pottery and a visit from a Native American who wowed the kids with food. Natalie has two new names she says she wants us to call her from time to time: Flying Horse (she named herself and was inspired by pegasus) and Bastet (a cat goddess - b/c she wants a cat and I'm allergic so she gets her cat and I don't have an asthma attack - all that according to her). Well, I have two weeks to possibly sleep in any before music camp starts. Ahh.

Birthday Trip..

Well, Hope's birthday was May 31st and Natalie's was June 14th, so to celebrate we took the weekend in between and took a quick trip over to Atlanta and took in a few sights. We went to the Fernbank Natural History Museum and the Georgia Aquarium. The afternoon we arrived we went to the Museum and it probably should have waited until they were a little older. They only really enjoyed the area where they could be hands-on with science exhibits and of course the gift shop. We stayed downtown at the Marriot and it was very nice. We took a little stroll and ate at Ted's Montana Grill. It was fabulous! The next morning we were the first in the Aquarium and a wonderful time was had by all. Even Taylor enjoyed watching the fish swim by. Unfortunately the penguins were off display and they are adding on a dolphin exhibit that will open in late 2010, so we're planning on going back then.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Hope's 4th Birthday

Make a Smilebox slideshow