Growing Everyday

Our second day of vacation, we got up and headed south to see the great-grandparents. We arrived about 10 and spent most of the day with them. It was a wonderful time. Granny and PopPop really enjoyed seeing Beka and Jared and just spending time talking and hanging out. The kids spent a lot of time exploring out side and seeing all types of bugs and other creatures.

After we had lunch, we headed out to Highlands Hammock in order to give the Grandparents a break and to run some energy out of the kids. Highlands Hammock is a huge state park. We only walked one of the trails, but it was really fun to walk over the boardwalk and try to see some gators (which we didn’t).

That evening Aunt Pat and Uncle Doug came over for supper at Granny and PopPop’s. We left shortly after so that we could get back to the hotel. I really enjoyed getting to see everyone.

Next Post Magic Kingdom!!!

Over Fall Break, we took a vacation to Florida. The plan was to spend one day with Andrew’s grandparents and to spend another day at Magic Kingdom. The trip was wonderful. We had some fabulous family time and plenty of just relaxing time too.

We stayed at the Caribe Royale. All the rooms are suites so the kids could go to bed early and Andrew could work in the living room at night. The best part of the hotel was the pool. There was a waterslide for the kids, a hot tub for the parents, and a waterfall that we loved pushing each other under. The ironic with the hotel was that an Ubuntu World Conference was going on. I take my husband on vacation and end up at a hotel with computer programmers…just my luck. Anyway, the hotel was really nice about 10 minutes from Magic Kingdom and with restaurants about another 10 minute drive away. We really enjoyed staying there. I felt secluded from all of the Disney propganda without having a lot a drive time to get where I wanted to go.

I am going to start with a quick Halloween post and then do a couple of post on our Florida/Disney vacation.

We returned from our vacation on Friday and then Sunday was Halloween. The kids had a great time.

Jared was a skater zombie punk

Beka was the Goddess Athena

Halloween afternoon, Andrew printed out a map of the neighborhood. He and the kids then sat down to map out the best route for trick-or-treating. They were trying to plan the best way to hit as many houses with the least walking possible. They ended up making it most of the way they has planned out. The only problem is so much candy is brought home, but only about half of it (if that) gets eaten.

We have made many trips to Strawtown Koteewi Park. The whole family loves to go there, walk the trails, view all the finds from the digs, and participate in the activites they have. Recently, Strawtown had a "fair day". You could go and watch archaeologists while they were digging at the site. You were allowed to help search for pieces of pottery or other artifacts. There was also a Watusi, an Afican cattle, that the kids petted. We went on a hayrack ride around the park and spent an enjoyable afternoon together.

Grandma Westberg sent us a great kit to make a Haunted Halloween house. The kit included foam pieces to build the house and foam stickers to decorate it with. Beka and Jared loved making it.

The weather around here has been beautiful lately. So as a family, we have been trying to be outside as much as possible in order to enjoy it. (I am actively trying not to think about winter.) We have walked most of the parks that are nearby. We recently tried a park a little bit further away. The park has a nice paved walkway and more of a nature trail too which is the kids preference. This last visit we even took the dog. I will have to take the kids back in the summer because the playground there has the biggest sandbox I have ever seen.

I want my children to be able to think reasonably and logically. And I believe that is a learned skill not everyone naturally thinks through decisions in a logical fashion. In order to reach my goal, I bought some logic games for the family. Now, my family may be a little unique. The other night, Beka and Jared could have watched TV and they could have played Wii. Instead, Beka, Jared, and Andrew all sat down and played these logic games. The best part everyone had fun and didn’t even know they were learning.

Jared had been promised that when he turned 7, he could have a pocket knife. So for his birthday that is what he received along with a smaller one that he decided to share with Beka. This summer both kids decided they wanted to whittle. First, we started out with reeds from around the pond, but those did not work out so well. Then, we took a walk and found some fallen branches that worked out pretty well. Jared cut himself once on the leg and Beka has only had a few scratches. They both seem to have fun smoothing the wood.

Andrew decided to join to them later in the day. It seems to be a very relaxing hobby.

They day before school started I took the kids to Snapperz for a last hooray of summer. We haven’t gotten to do the parent kid dates yet due to my brother’s wedding. So I thought this might be a nice distraction. The place has inflatables, climbing wall, lazer tag, and a bungee trampoline. Beka and Jared had so much fun. I know they want to go back again sometime.

School has start. Both children like their teachers very much. They both have kids in their class that they are excited to see there.

Hopefully, it will be a wonderful year.