What a zoo!

Well we did it. It's over. It was great!

Elena's preschool organized a field trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. I committed to go and have been stressing about it since. We left at 7:30 in the morning and got home around 4:00. We rode a charter bus with the preschool kids and their parents. I decided to take both kids and hope for the best. They were great. I was scared about not having my own car and thus an out if things got kind of hairy with Lucas, as they sometimes do. Miraculously they didn't. The forecast predicted rain, but it stayed dry and just cool enough to keep out the crowds. What would they do on the bus? Ahhh, built in TV screens and a DVD player. I can hear the halleluia chorus in the background.

Both kids were so well behaved I was amazed. I even got to see Elena's first crush-ee. This little boy is so concerned with Elena, where she is, if she's OK, will she or won't she hold his hand, etc. So cute. Here are a few pictures.

(First, the Pitt. Childrend's Museum with Grandpa Lee)

(Cool hand, Lucas)
(The Zoo)

Where did that month go?

I cannot believe it is October! Where did September go? All of a sudden the things I wanted to have done by this month are still on my to do list. Elena's birthday is almost here with nothing done to get ready for it. Drew may or may not be taking vacation next week and we may or may not have a trip to be planning. I skipped cleaning last month. Just didn't do it. I still have thank you cards for my birthday to take care of (from August). What happened?
I'll tell you what happened! Nice weather and a new routine. With Elena in school three-days a week, it's like I forgot how to be productive. We spend a lot more time (and gas money) running around. It's fun-don't get me wrong. The weather has also been about 75 consistently. I don't feel like staying inside cleaning when that sun is calling us to go out.
Oh yeah, and the best part of my distracting September was a week-long visit from my dad!! It was so much fun to see him. The kids loved having him here. We played, they played - it was just a laid back time. My camera is acting kind of funny, so I'll post pictures soon.

A walk in the park

Taking the kids to the park is always an adventure. As long as Elena can dig and Lucas can roam we're in business. Our nice days are numbered and I want to get the kids out as possible. Morgantown has several great parks that we go to. I am definitely grateful when the sun is out!

P.S.-I sarted another blog that is solely pictures of the kids. I don't want to bore anyone, but I have some antsy grandparents that can't get enough. The address is: thanksgrandma.blogspot.com.

Yay!

The kids are up in their beds falling asleep for naptime. This is one of the nicest parts of the day as long as all goes well. I left Lucas up in his crib doing somersaults with his stuffed elephant and Elena is in her room talking to the picture of Snoopy on her bandaid. So fun. Now it's time for me to have a moment of peace. Ahhh.

Playing Catch-up

We've been running around like nuts having a blast. Elena loves preschool, and every time we get ready to go she tells me how much her teachers are going to be so happy to see her. It makes me feel good to know that she feels loved by her amazing teachers. We have also been trying to explore the "Wild and Wonderful" state of West Virginia (and So. Pennsylvania) before the weather goes south for the winter.
There is a great park called Chestnut Ridge that has a playground and a swimming area that the kids and I ventured out to with some of our favorite play-pals. Lucas avoided to pool this summer, but give him the combination of dirty lake water and a sandy beach and the kid was in heaven.
Elena also went on her first hay-ride on Friday night while we were at a church activity. She loved it.
I'm not the most consistent at capturing all of our "Kodak moments" but I do have a few pictures from our recent expeditions. We took the kids up to a State Forrest called Coopers Rock. There is a cluster of huge rocks called "Rock City" where the kids have fun climbing around.
There are also pictures from another trip we took yesterday (in lieu of fighting with the kids at Stake Conference). We went up to a state park in Southern PA.
We had a really great time despite Lucas sour mood. Elena alternated between being carried and walking with a bushwhacking stick taking swings at any plants in her way. It was a great way to spend the day together, something we rarely get to do.

Our trip to Ohiopyle, PA

Coopers Rock

(Did I mention Lucas is learning the parts of the body?)

It makes you wonder

I was watching this movie the other night:

It's about a blended family of 18 children. My goodness. I thought: How does this mother run this crazy household. Then it occurred to me. I didn't see her sitting around watching movies. Oh well.

This is the way we go to school, la la la

(To the tune of Mulberry Bush =).

Elena started Preschool today. She's all grown up. No, not even close but it still is a little reminder that time is already going to fast.

Brushing up on her shapes.

Her first day went very well. She had no problem being dropped off and was appropriately excited to come home with me. In other words, she wasn't sitting at the window waiting for me to come and she didn't put up a huge fight when I told her it was time to go. When I came and got her she was playing outside on the private playground for preschoolers. As we walked back into the school she was pedaling on a tricycle - something I've never seen her coordinate before. (One day down and she's already learned something) She went into her room grabbed her things from her cubby and said goodbye to her teacher like she's been doing this for awhile. I talked to her teacher and she said Elena was quiet until they sat in a circle, introduced themselves and tried to describe the clothes they were wearing. That is always a favorite topic of Elena's.


Lucas and I enjoyed our first couple of hours just the two of us - something we've never had before. He was more excited to see the playground than Elena when we picked her up, but I can understand - It's a great play area.

Time to go.

Lucas' new favorite hiding spot.

Everything but the kitchen sink.