Haven't been blogging

I have good excuses for not blogging as much. First and foremost, since our camera died, I haven't able to take many pictures. Secondly, when Mom and Dad were here, Dad got me addicted to watching Two and a Half Men. If you've never watched it, I recommend it for a good laugh. The topics are definitely NOT for children which is part of its appeal for me. And it just puts me in a good mood. The other great thing about the show is I think it started back in 2004 or 2005, so I have 4 or 5 seasons to catch up on. It makes me smile just thinking about it :)

Auntie Melissa and Auntie Moo visit

Melissa and Margaret came to visit me last weekend! It was great to hang out with them. They came into Charlotte late Friday night, so we stayed in a hotel downtown instead of driving home. It was sooo nice to be able to sleep all night without interruption AND sleep in.

Saturday we took it easy and made our way to Childress vineyards. They had a live band out on their lawn. We got some wine, cheese, and crackers and soaked up the music and beautiful weather. After a nice lunch, we walked around the vines a little before we headed off to home.

The kids were excited to see their Auntie Melissa and Auntie Moo. They played in the pool a little an showed off to their aunts. Saturday evening, we left the kids with Scott and ate out at a little wine bar and listened to a little live music in downtown Winston-Salem.

If there's night life in W-S, I don't know about it. I'm always home before dark with the kids. But we had a nice relaxing time.

Sunday, Scott, Melissa, and I had our Fantasy football draft. We grilled out and took it easy. The girls had to be at the airport at 6 am Monday morning. It was a quick trip, but nice, relaxing and fun :)

Scott, several months ago, kicked a big ball up into one of our pine trees. The ball has been perched very nicely so that Scott has not managed to get it down, until my Dad is present and he decides to go all out. By saying all out, I mean, he was on a mission one night that my parents were here. He was bound and determined to get that ball out of the tree. He had some help and an audience :)

Scott, on a chair, holding his ball retriever. Attached to the ball retriever, a sprinkler heard shooting water at the ball.

Different angle.

Spraying from another angle.

Spraying the kids....

Grandpa holding a two by four, split, and attached to the other half, with the ball retriever on the end of the two by fours. (Shirt off)

Scott's turn - which finally brought down the ball.

Mom and I went for a walk, so I've received much of this information second hand. But we have pictures to document the progression of methods to procure the ball.

Old Salem

The last day of Grandma and Grandpa's visit (Tues.) we walked around Old Salem. They have some gardens, old buildings, and a great bakery that still bakes the same way it did 100 years ago.

We were walking around the gardens and Ian decided that he was tired. He stood in one place and just started crying because he wanted to be held. I walked around a little bit with him on my back and then, of course, Payton wanted a piggy back ride. Grandpa offered, but they were both getting pretty whiny after the bakery. So, in the old hat shop, we bought two green swirly lollipops. It was like magic. The kids walked by themselves. They were happy as clams. Listened to us nicely and let us tour about 30 minutes longer. Amazing what a little colored sugar will do.

Payton finally went back to school on Wednesday. I felt a little guilty keeping her home for the week that Grandma and Grandpa were here, but it's only pre-K. Payton when asked, says that she would rather stay home with Mommy and Ian than go to school. I'm not sure why. She never fusses when I drop her off at school and she always says she's had a good time at school. Right now she's suppose to go 5 days a week, but if she keeps this up, I may keep her home 1 day a week. - We'll see.

NSC

We have unusually cool weather today ;) The high temp is suppose to be 68 and it feels awesome. I'm sorry to those in TX and AZ who are reading this.

So today, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and go to the Greensboro Natural Science Center. It has dinosaur exhibit which Ian was looking forward to and was in awe of when we got there. They have a little bit of everything: rocks, minerals, aquatics, physics, play area for the kids; mini-farm, and mini-zoo (with tigers), iguanas, snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes (those were creepy). We spent close to two and a half hours there this morning. The mini-zoo was especially nice because it was cool and the animals were out moving around. Payton enjoyed 'talking' with the fish - their mouths kept opening and closing.

There was a cool water table in which you could change the flow of water by moving partitions around. The kids thought this was pretty nifty.

Both kids were tuckered out after the action-packed morning.

Grandma, Grandpa....

play with me!

Ian and Payton have been enjoying their playtime with Grandma and Grandpa. They definitely are not shy about asking for time with their grandparents.

My mom and dad got her on Tues. We've been staying close to home, partly because our Murano is in the shop. It went to the dealership Tues. night - it is now Friday night - no car. Don't get me started about it. Bottom line is - I'm not happy. Breathe.

So, when we go anywhere, we've been squeezing into our little black Toyota corolla. We haven't gone very far - to eat out, to the store, and to the gym. It's been very exciting.

Of, course the kids could care less. They are having a blast. They played in the pool one afternoon. Grandma was brave enough to get in with them. The next afternoon, they played on the slip-n-slide. It was Grandpa's turn to get wet this time.

Just kidding, neither wanted to risk breaking something.

Ian's better

Ian is much better today. His fever was pretty much gone yesterday. He had a sore throat, but I think that is even better today. He had some good moments yesterday and Daddy took some pictures.

We also had a praying mantis on one of our sunflower plants - exciting stuff, I know. But that was our weekend :)