End of the Year Program

Payton had her end of the year program on Thursday night. I think they've been practicing the songs for this show since they came back from Christmas. They sang about 10 songs and recited about 6 bible verses. Payton was so excited for us to see this program. She did a great job.

Ian was pretty good through the program, but after it they gave each child an award-bag. (These bags had all the praise notes from the year and a book of pictures Payton made that started with each letter of the alphabet - super cool.) Anyway, Ian did not sit well through this. He was getting antsy and probably hungry. So I let him play with our camera......

The Dash

Today we went to a Dash baseball game. Ever since we moved to Winston-Salem, we have watched this baseball stadium being built because we saw it on the way to church. Since its completion, the kids have been wanting to go to a game. We got an offer through Payton's school to go for a discounted rate, plus all of us would receive a Dash hat, and the kids each got a free hot dog and soda. We just couldn't go wrong. So today was the day for the big game.

We went to a 2 pm game. The stadium was beautiful. The weather was hit and miss. It was nice when it was cloudy, steamy and hot when the sun was out, and very wet when it decided to rain on us for about 20 minutes. We weathered it all and the kids even got to go play on some inflatable bouncey things.

But by the 5th inning, everyone's enthusiasm was starting to wane. Ian was getting down right grumpy. So, we packed it up and headed home during the 6th inning. Of course, by this time, taking pictures was out of the question for Ian.

Payton said her favorite part was watching the game. Ian first said his favorite part was giving his ticket to be scanned. Later he changed his mind and said that watching the game was his favorite part.

Strawberry Patch

We couldn't let this year go by without picking strawberries right out of a North Carolina strawberry patch. The Winston-Salem Children's home planted their first strawberry patch this year. It's right up the street from where Samuel and Sarah live. So we took advantage of a quick strawberry pickin' trip.

I made some jam from the berries we picked, so we can enjoy a little bit of this day all year round.

Hmmmm.....strawberries....yum!

Ug

This is Payton's latest word. Ug. If something isn't going her way, she says, 'Ug' - with feeling behind it. She gets a boo boo - Ug. She falls down - Ug. She's told to get off the computer - Ug.

I overheard telling her friend Samuel today that you say 'Ug' when something is going wrong.

The only place where I think she might have gotten the word from is from a Backyardigan's episode about Cave people going to a cave party.......

Ug?

I find myself sometimes thinking it.

Ug!

It's addictive, so don't try it.

Ug.

Next thing you know you'll be saying it out loud.

Ug.

Daddy's weekend with the kids

I know it's been a little while - I've been busy!

Last weekend (Mother's Day weekend) I went to Phoenix to help clean up our house there for new renters. An added bonus was seeing my friends :) It was a quick trip, exhausting, but very productive. And it was great to see my friends.

Daddy was left behind with the kids. Poor Ian had a fever Thursday and Friday. He was better Saturday, but still wasn't eating very well. It turns out that he had Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease which is contagious. I, apparently, have never had it before. So, on Monday, Mommy wasn't just tired from the trip, I caught HFMD too! Anyway, I won't supply the details here, but the first part of the week was all a blur. And all of a sudden, it's been a week since I was gone.

So, even though Ian was sick, Daddy still snuck in a trip to a Lego exhibit and a Megalodon Shark exhibit in Raleigh.

WALL-E

I bet that left a nose print.

I sometimes feel like these sculptures. 

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Megaladon (enormous extinct shark) exhibit

My kids next to skeleton of a whale.

Kids looking at fake snake - that rhymes!

Daddy, we're done.

Actually, I think they said, 'Daddy we're tired. Can we go home now?'

Slip N Slide Play Date

I think we've gone from Spring into Summer already. So why not play like we're in summer.  We've had the slip'n'slide out twice now. Today we shared it with Samuel and Sarah. The kids always have a great time together (when they don't gang up on each other - that is)

The play date started in the pool. We had water guns, lots of floaties, a blow up dolphin, a blow up shark - the kids were entertained. The Mommies enjoyed visiting.

Then we moved on to the slip'n'slide. Ian really has the hang of it. He flies down the thing. It took everyone else a little while to catch on. Our old red slide really helped Sarah.

Then somehow things deteriorated to mud play. Before the Jill and I knew what was going on mud was being painted on the pool, on each other and on the slip'n'slide.

By this time Ian was already done with the water and had changed.

He wasn't very impressed with the mud-play.

Fun....

NC Zoo

Scott's working nights this weekend, so I needed to get the kids out of the house so he could sleep this morning. Why not take them to the NC Zoo one more time. The kids were very excited, especially because we met Samuel and Sarah there.

First stop was the African side because the giraffes were a common request. The giraffes were a little far, but we didn't mind. This is such a beautiful zoo.

Then we continued on up the African hill to the elephants, ostriches and rhinos.

The animals held the kids' attentions for a little while, but these egg sculpture/art/playthings seemed to be much more popular. Here's a series of Payton, Ian and Sarah hatching from an egg.

I think it was Ian's idea to get out. 

But, he got quickly overruled.

The girls thought they could get out at the same time.

Sarah won out.

Ian - always the gentleman, really just let the girls go first ; )

After lunch we took a 'fancy bus', as the kids called the tram,  over to the North American side to catch the play area, Polar bears, and sea lions before the kids melted. The kids all grinned, and eyes lit up as the tram pulled out of the station.

The play area was a favorite.

We were all hot and tired by this point. But a promise had been made that we would stop by the lions on the way out, so to the lions we went.

Along the way, the little ones started to feel a bit out of sorts. The whining commenced, and everyone wanted a ride in the wagon or a piggy-back ride. Solution: out came the miracle lollipops. Anyone that wanted a lollipop had to walk. The whining ceased and we had peace.

There's nothing like licking lollipops while leering at lazy lions lying in the grass.

On the way out, Ian was so tired. So I let him ride in the wagon. When we got to the parking lot, I turned around to look at him.

Ian? 

Are you ok?

Leave me alone, Mommy, I'm tired!