Everyday Stuff - April 2013 Edition

Cat really enjoyed reading about dinosaurs.

Oops.

10 Days before Luke was born, Ben and I were very touched that we received a
brand new car seat for the baby, from an unknown benefactor.

It came with the added bonus of a new playhouse for the big kids.

During a walk in the neighborhood, Eliza picked some flowers buds in a neighbor's yard.

After our walk, we came back to the house to find a family of garden snakes slithering
around our driveway.  There were 4 in all.

Cat decided she needed an additional piece of furniture in the
downstairs bathroom so that she could have a place to spread out
her hair accessories and tools.

Drawing pictures for Mema and Papa's upcoming visit,
Eliza drew a rainbow while Jack drew monsters.

We placed Jack's and Eliza's pictures, complete with captions, on a wall of the room
Mema and Papa stayed in so they had a bit of decoration.  And entertainment.

I'm beginning to think this child will never tire of playing with trains.

I was finally able to attend a "Show What You Know" morning assembly at Cat's school.
The 2nd Graders sang a song about rocks (below) and I recorded it, but the sound didn't
work for some reason.  I was glad to be able to attend, though!

I found this list of rules for "Cat's and Eliza's Room House" pinned to a 

board in their room.  It also contains consequences for each broken rule, 

and a place where Cat can mark how many strikes the offender receives.

Dot painting.

After everyone had finished their meals at McDonald's, Eliza still had quite a bit left.  So she
decided to take it all with her - the drink, hamburger, pack of apples, and toy.

The kids love it when we let them wash the windows of the car at gas stations.

The last picture is my favorite - that was my view of Eliza trying to wash the window

while I was inside the car.

Ben has had a couple of shooting sessions with the kids, using his Red Ryder BB Gun.

He's been teaching them how to use it, and Cat is getting pretty good at it.

Jack is saying "hi" to Mema and Papa, who are on Sype
(two weeks before they came to UT to visit us.)

Did you know you can sharpen a pen in a pencil sharpener?

Cat's teacher was cleaning out her cabinets and came across a Walkman,
which Cat was thrilled to receive.  I dug out a small box of cassette tapes
and found one tape of Muppets songs, half of which I'd recorded over at some point,
and a tape of songs inspired by Prince of Egypt, both of which the kids listened to.
The kids loved using the Walkman, to the point that they fought over it,
so I then started letting one of them use my Discman.  (Yes, my original Discman
from high school, and it still works, and it is still used occasionally.)  In the above
picture, Jack is using the Walkman, and Eliza is listening to the Discman.

Cat's school had a Dress Like Your Favorite Character Day, and Cat chose to dress
up as Ramona Quimby.  Her shirt says "ROMONA."

Jack's class had a unit on insects and he came home with a giant ant.

April 15th, 2013: Jack's last opportunity to eat snow.

Photographer: Jack

Photographer: Jack

Photographer: Cat

Photographer: Unknown

Photographer: Unknown

My grandparents were passing through town when Luke was a week old,

so they stopped by to meet the little guy.  I was thrilled to be able to introduce them

and we had a wonderful little visit.