Artsy Fartsy

Tuesday night was BEAUTIFUL outside, so I was inspired to go outside and take artsy pictures of our house/yard. I was SO excited to download the pictures once I was done, however, that I became careless, and let the strap of the camera catch a handle of our kitchen cabinet.... the results were devastating, LITERALLY! Our lens was shattered in the front. I felt so sick for my carelessness! Once Don came home, I confessed what I did (tearfully!). He consoled me, THEN looked at the camera. It turns out that I just broke the UV filter on the front of the lens... a MUCH less expensive disaster! What a RELIEF! So, here they are... the pictures that broke my lens!

Remembering

Don and I visited Ground Zero 2 years ago right after 9/11... It was haunting to visit where the World Trade Center buildings had been the last time we had visited. Today, I am remembering...

Library Hour

The kids went to the library today for a special story/craft. The library is holding a contest (along with the rest of our state) for Kindergarteners through Third Graders to find out what their favorite books are. They are reading 20 books throughout the school year, then they'll vote. Today's story was about chickens. I've already forgotten the name of the book, but they made a chicken afterward as a craft.

Sis named hers Hen-ry (Get it??? "Hen"ry???).

Then there's Bub's Chicken. His name is Sir Clucks-a-lot.

I love with just a few scraps and imagination, the kids can have such a great time!

We did it!

Here's another blast from the past... about 5 years ago. I should be cleaning my house and folding laundry since we have people coming over tonight, but instead I was figuring out how to edit our videos on the computer. Here's one clip... I love this one! Bub was so cute, wasn't he? He will still dance if he likes certain music (it's not Dora anymore, though)! And note Cale in the corner. He was still a teenager then... and WAY too cool to laugh!



If I get really good at this editing thing, WATCH OUT WORLD!

Word of the Day

I am obsessed with words (it's a family trait). Therefore, it's unusual for someone to spout out a word that I've never heard before. I was in a meeting earlier this week when a colleague of mine (and a friend) was talking about some environmental issues... no offense to her, but I found myself drifting off a bit until I heard her talking about the EPA bifurcating the issues. Hmmm...



Bifurcate (verb): to divide or fork into two channels or branches.



It's an interesting word. My next challenge is to be able to use it in "normal" conversation. It's also fun to say.



I'd be interested in what words you like to use that are not mainstream words. I'd like to add to my repertoire.

The World's Fair of 2008

Because we live in a small town that both Don and I grew up in, when the "homecoming" comes to town, it's an event. It's THE event. It's the time when you see anyone and everyone who lives in our town, and even those who just come back for the homecoming (ie. social gatherings, food, carnival rides). Because we're cheap (Don calls it thrifty), we wait until Monday every year to let the kids ride the rides, because they're SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper on the last day. It was a scorching hot day, but the kids had a wonderful time.

They started at the Fun Slide... They decided to race.

I think it was too close to tell!

Then they rode the Dragon roller coaster...

...where I think the mom in front of them enjoyed it a lot more than her baby!

Next was the Avalanche, which Sis rode when she was just 5!!! And this was the first year since then that she felt "led" to ride it again. Bub was definitely up for it!!! It goes WAY up in the air!! Made me dizzy just watching them!

Then came the bumper cars. Sis wanted a car to herself...

...But Bub found a friend from school and decided to ride with him (look how red their faces are... it was SO hot!!)

Finally, they rode Pharoah's Fury, which is like the Buccaneer from Six Flags from when I was a kid. Bub has had his eye on this ride since they started putting the rides up earlier this week. Notice how high above the trees they are in this picture. Don and I were nervous wrecks during this ride!

We finished the fun, hot day with the best part (to me, anyway): ICE CREAM

I need a life!

I can't tell you how excited I am... I just got a postcard in the mail today from Neilson... yup, THAT Neilson. The one who does all the ratings for TV. They're sending MY FAMILY a huge packet to fill out about our television viewing. I wish I could tell you I was joking when I tell you that I always wanted to be a part of the "Neilson ratings." Sad...