Memorial Day Hail Storm

  We had all just returned home and were cooling off when the horizontal rain began. Within minutes, it started to sound like someone was tapping their fingers on the window and I asked daddy if he thought it was hail. He opened the garage door and there it was - it looked like little gumballs bouncing on a trampoline! The kiddos were scared, yet quite curious and within moments, they all had their helmets on and were off to collect some hail before the lightening began again!


The hail was not large - dime to nickel size and only lasted 10-15minutes, but we all enjoyed the show!

Summer Adventure #1

Today we began our summer adventures! The kiddos are so excited to not have any school for the next 2 months - little do they know, Mommy is tricking them and they are doing plenty of school!

After Wesley finished his final speech lesson this morning, we headed over to Bertz-Tiger Point Preserve to do some exploring. While there, the kiddos learned about the Timucuan Indians. They learned about how they used the St. John's river. They laughed as they practiced saying the names of their Chiefs. They enjoyed having conversations, but only using a certain sound that mommy told them - just like the Timucuan's did with the English when they first arrived.

The kiddos also learned about plants and animals. We learned to identify poison ivy and various spiders, along with different shells.

However, I think the all time favorite activity was capturing the baby frogs! As we were walking towards the van, Hannah noticed these little creatures jumping through the grass. As she got closer, she realized what they were and the collecting of frogs began! At one point, Lil'Robert had 7 in his hands! They all had a great time - we had frog races and jumping contests. We even had a competition to see whose frog could stay in their hand the longest with the palm open (Hannah's won!) As our time at the preserve ended, the kiddos begged to keep their newest pets. Poor Wesley even cried as he wanted to be a daddy to his froggies, since he has never been a daddy before!

All in all, I think today was very positive! We had a great first Summer Adventure and will continue discussing information for the remainder of the week!

 

I'M BACK!

Well, I am back! I have greatly missed sharing the children's antics with my family 600 miles away. They are all there for each other, but only have the opportunity to see my kiddos when we make the trek out as a family. From here on out, this blog will only be about the kiddos and our family life. I will no longer share my private feelings...

Since I last wrote a year ago, a few milestones have occured...

• Daddy is now a TriAthlete
• Lil'Robert and Hannah have participated in 2 TriAthlons
• Daddy and Lil'Robert have done 3 5K's together
• Hannah, Wesley, and I have done multiple 1mi Fun Runs
• Daddy has completed 3 1/2Marathons in 3 months
• Lil'Robert plays Little League
• The kiddos are now 5, 7, and 9
• We went to the mountains in the Fall and picked apples and played in the waterfalls
• We returned in the winter and it snowed 3 times
• We celebrated with my sister and her husband as they welcomed their long awaited first born, Olivia Anne, into the family on 4/10
• My younger sister, Clare, graduated nursing school (Her husband graduates med school next spring!)
• My brother, Michael, graduated college (again!) with a second BA in Engineering

I am sure that there is MUCH more, but the kiddos are ready to go outside and play, plus laundry needs folding, and dishes need washing!

To Germany We Go...

This summer, the kiddos and I have decided to travel Germany and Europe alongside Uncle Michael. Over the next 11 weeks, as Uncle Michael visits a new country in the EU, so will we. We will read books and try their food. We will listen to videos of how they speak and see how they dress. We will learn about the landscape and agriculture. We will read about their history. Every Monday, we will enter a new country and on Friday, we will depart after a family dinner eating native foods and sharing our favorite facts. Uncle Michael will also be helping us out by sending pictures and passing on neat information that he finds...

This week, we are beginning with Germany. We have borrowed books galore from the library and have already read through most of them. Last night, we read about their food and learned that hot dogs (frankfurters) originated in Frankfurt, Germany. We also learned that with every meal, there is a bread and potato dish. They also eat a lot of raw cabbage!

On the menu this week is Hot Dogs on Buns, mashed potatoes, and a raw cabbage salad. We are not really stepping out of our comfort zone this week, but it is also our off week for grocery shopping, so we must use what we have!

I look forward to learning more this week and finding out where next week's adventure will be!