Archive for August, 2009

Bugfest

2009 08 30 Beka and Jared looking at Monarch caterpilla

Beka’s teacher sent home a printout on Friday describing an activity called Bugfest that was happening at one of the Indy parks over the weekend. Of course, my children were eager to be a part of anything having to do with bugs. Now, Andrew and I thought this would be a smallish event. We were completely and utterly wrong. There were parents and kids everywhere. First, we went to the check-in where both kids were handed a card to keep track of the stations they visited. There were probably 15-20 stations to visit all dealing in some way with bugs. We were able to see monarch caterpillars and monarch butterflies, bees and beekeepers, an entomologist, and worms. The kids really enjoyed watch the fly fisherman make their own flies. Then we come to the "grossome" part of the day. The Bugfest included a bug cafe where the children and Andrew tried bacon/cheddar crickets, salt/vinegar crickets, sour cream crickets, and chocolate covered crickets. They also had these silkworm things that you could eat. Apparently, those tasted the worst.

2009 08 30 Andrew  Beka  and Jared at the Bugfest2009 08 30 Mom  Beka and Jared at Bugfest2009 08 30 Jared and Beka digging through dirt to find 2009 08 30 Jared looking through a microscope at mosqui2009 08 30 Beka looking through a microscope at mosquit

August Randomness

2009 08 23 the best poised picture I could get

We spent alot of time doing nothing in August partly because mom is lazy and partly because school started and that cut into fun time a bit. So I decided to end the month with picture spam. We took Jared to a skatepark for the first time to play on his skateboard. He was intimidated by all the big kids but he did okay. That same day Beka brought her bike to the park and rode all over. Then both kids decided to climb and tree.

2009 08 16 Jared at skatepark2009 08 16 Jared more confident at skatepark2009 08 16 Jared skateboarding at Forest park2009 08 16 Beka riding her bike at Forest Park 22009 08 16 Beka in tree2009 08 16 Jared in tree

I tried one afternoon to get some posed brother/sister pictures. That didn’t work out so well. Jared hates to smile for pictures and if I have Beka pose, her smile looks so fake. Anyway, it was fun for me to play photographer for awhile.

2009 08 23 another try at a posed brother sister shot2009 08 23 beka and Jared jumping on the fence2009 08 23 Beka posing2009 08 23 Beka playing in the water
2009 08 23 trying to get a posed borther sisiter pictur

Swimming

I took pictures the last time we went swimming. We only made it about 30 minutes because it was cold. Beka and Jared really do love to swim though. It is even better when Daddy is there to play with them.

2009 08 15 Jared alligator ride 22009 08 15 Jared getting an alligator ride2009 08 15 Jared at pool2009 08 15 Beka in pool2

Chrysalis

2009 08 23 chrysalis

We planted a box of seeds this year that were supposed to attract butterflies. As I have mentioned before Beka loves butterflies so this was her little project. We have zinnias, purple coneflowers, sunflowers, and a bunch of other flowers that I can’t even begin to tell you the names of. But, apparently, they are working because Andrew found a chrysalis on the side of the house. We have now brought it inside and I am hoping that a butterfly hatches. I just think that would be amazing to watch.

2009 08 23 chrysalis 2

Jared’s First Lost Tooth

Jared lost his first tooth. He is so excited. It was really loose, just barely hanging on. It was actually causing him more pain because it was twisting around so I just plucked it out. Jared couldn’t believe it was just that easy.

2009 08 23 Jared lost his first tooth 1

Skateboard

It seems like every boy in the neighborhood has a skateboard. Jared was mystified by them and really really wanted to try it. So as a reward for reading 20 books this summer, he received a skateboard. The first few times he rode it, I had to look away and make Andrew supervise. They just don’t look safe. Jared has done really well on it though. And the teenagers in the neighborhood are taking the time to give him advice on moves to do. He has a blast out there.

2009 07 29 Jared riding skateboard2009 07 29 Jared riding skateboard 22009 07 29 Jared riding skateboard 3

Falls Park

2009 07 26 the falls

We took a random drive before school started to Falls Park. There are hiking trails that we walked and a mountain bike course. Also, of course, there are waterfalls. It was a very pretty park, and you could tell many people visit it often.

2009 07 26 Andrew and Kahla2009 07 26 Beka and Jared posing2009 07 26 Beka  Andrew  and Jared on bridge 22009 07 26 Beka posing2009 07 26 Beka taking pictures2009 07 26 Jared posing2009 07 26 Beka and Jared at Falls Park

First Day of School – 2009

2009 08 11 Beka and Jared first day of school

My house is very quiet today. The first day of school is today and both kids are there all day. I am a little excited to have so much time to myself and a little anxious about my kids. I am just praying that today turns out to be a great day for both of them. If their smiles before they left are any indication, then it should be a wonderful day.

2009 08 11 Beka first day of school2009 08 11 Jared first day of school