car seat Friday

Apparently, I was mistaken.  I do have time to update this week.

before new school haircuts.....   (look at those big toes!)

Notice Carl is in a different backless seat?  Yeah, blame Lew for taking his real seat to work with him.  Carl was happy to get this new seat, though.  I think we are going to leave the 2 backless ones in Lew's car as back-ups for now anyway.  They are old enough to be in them with no backs.  I just like the little extra belt positioning help that the backs offer.  But, Lew has mentioned he might possibly consider maybe perhaps taking them to school each morning since he drives right by.  Would save me 50 miles a week on my car if he would.  I get less than 20mpg, too.  So, they'll be in those seats for that if he decides to do it.

Before the haircuts we went to our favorite play place's birthday party.  Each year they host a party and allow kids of all ages to come.  Otherwise, we are now too old to go there.  It was free and it is raining today.  That equals a lot of toddlers.  It was pretty loud and crowded.  Thank goodness my kids were not screamers.  Man, this one little boy had such high pitched screech whenever someone did something he wasn't crazy about.  which was often.  neat-o.

This was by the door...

The next stop on our Last Day of Summer Vacation was McDonald's for lunch.  I hate Spongebob, but Carl (who by the way has never seen the show) loves him.  McDonald's currently has him as their Happy meal toys.  Or rather they did.  Turns out, they have switched to Transformer toys for boys and monkey ones for girls.  We are so not into Transformers - so we got 2 girls' toys.  I actually like the bendable monkeys better than a plastic Spongebob!  So did Gretchen.

Next up - new school haircuts!!  Well, we finished lunch an hour early, so we decided (OK, I decided - they were just along for the ride) to head to the Goodwill first.  Seriously, we have the best Goodwill.  For $15 I got Gretchen 3 dresses, 2 long sleeved shirts and a red striped skirt that will perfect for Spirit Days at school.  Have you seen the styles for little girls in stores lately?  Sequins, sequins and more sequins.  I was psyched to find GAP, Lands End and Cherokee dresses in my taste for her.  Also, I don't mind sending her to school in a $2 dress.  Don't get me wrong - I won't buy things with stains or holes, but otherwise, I can find cute things that won't end the world if they get some paint on them at school.  We did not have time to search the boys' rack, but Carl managed to find a convertible VW beetle.  $1.....  the Happy Meal monkeys fit in it perfectly!!

Now we had killed enough time to go to the salon.  The other family there had a Dad named Karl so that was fun getting confused whenever someone called anyone else in there.  He declined a lollipop when Teresa offered Carl one after his cut.

Car Seat Friday After Haircut version...

Home for nap in the rain.  Later tonight, we're heading downtown for a reception at the gallery where I have 2 photos hanging in an exhibit of triptych (series of 3 images in one frame) images.  Guess we better dress up a bit.

Here are a couple more shots of the new school haircuts.  I didn't get a shot of the back of Carl's before version... at the base of his neck, his curls were coming back!

Oh yeah, remember when I said I had not knit anything for them like I put on the Summer Poster List??  Well, I checked that off a couple days ago with 2 blankets for their Webkinz.  Gretchen's is orange and white for her new favorite ice cream, Stewart's Kaydeross Kream (aka creamsicle... orange sherbet mixed with vanilla) and Carl got a yellow one because, well, he loves yellow.

also before haircuts.

Last night was Open House at school when the kids learn who will be their teacher for the year.  We got a wonderful teacher!  Oh wait, all the teachers we know there seem wonderful.  We are all very excited and happy with their assignment this year!!  From the class roster, it looks like there are 3 sets of twins in the class.  Or maybe cousins with the same last name?  

Nothing planned for tomorrow.  Sunday will be a pool party at a classmate's (from kindergarten) house to kick off the new school year.  Then, Monday...... tune in for our First Day of School pictures and report!!  See you then!!

with 1st grade fast approaching...

I asked them

What are you most looking forward to about school?


Gretchen:  What I'm most excited about is the end of the year to see if I have learned another big word.   (see, last year, their kindergarten teacher taught them the word 'oviparous' and told them something about it being a third grade word.  So, she can't wait to learn something ahead of her grade level.  And by the way, if you are wondering... an animal that lays eggs.)

Carl:  To learn things.  What do you think you'll learn?  (shrugs) I don't know - First Grade stuff!
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Yesterday, we were going to go to the arboretum in the morning and have lunch there, but it was raining.  So, we decided to play at home and then go to a local drive in for lunch.  Since it was raining, we had to suffer through cheeseburgers and fries (for only Carl and me.  Gretchen hates french fries and all things potato.)  in the van.  We came through the harrowing experience unscathed.  And full.  mmmmm

 After a little fight, the boy ended up getting to be the one who sat in the passenger seat for the meal.

Yes, that is a bicycle pump in my wayintheback.  No, I do not ride a bicycle.  But, old habits die hard.  After having to check the air in the tires every 3 days with the Volvo and once having to actually pump up my tire with that bicycle pump, I am not taking any chances.  I have an ice scraper in my car at all times, too.  I have not lived in Buffalo in more than 10 years.

Then, we did head to the arboretum after nap.

random vacation photos

OK - here's the thing.  It is seriously easier to not blog than it is to actually blog.

We have one more week of our summer vacation before the kids head back to school and I don't see myself giving up much of that precious time to update here.  I thought I would be one of those moms who was chomping at the bit waiting to get these 2 out the door and into first grade, but turns out, I'm not.  Don't get me wrong - I am really looking forward to the routine of school again.  We have been pretty free spirited this summer and that isn't always the best thing for my family.  But, turns out, we did about 99% of what we put down on our Summer 2012 poster and we've had a blast doing fun stuff together... as free spirits.

What didn't we accomplish???  I have not completed a photo book.  I have not knitted one stitch of anything for the kids.  (or for me, for that matter)  No one was willing to take the training wheels off their bike.  We did try in NY with a bike Grammie had, but she was the only one into trying to ride it.  The kids were having no part of that.  So, not bad for what we didn't accomplish on our list of fun summer things to do.

Here are some random vacation photos.  I haven't even edited the whole trip yet.  I have one more day of surf camp to edit as well.  The other problem I am having is that we have discovered Webkinz around here and I never get time on the computer anymore.  Carl informed me I could have time when they were gone.  I asked him when that was going to be and he said, "On August 27th when we are in first grade."


Fisher Price Little People are always fun at Grammie's!

 Uncle Kenny!

animals are pretty much everywhere

For months and months, Carl had been planning a shopping trip to Hannaford (grocery store) with just him and Uncle Kenny.  They would ride there in Kenny's truck and shop alone.  So, we gave them a grocery list and sent them on their way.

Happy to get to ride in the truck.

 After shopping, Carl got to drive around the field in the truck.

 That wasn't even in his original plan.  Good thing he is a flexible guy, huh?

more animals

swimming with Katy!

 Hiney-whopper!!!!  A new generation.

up at camp

hang ten!

The twins started a week long surf camp yesterday.  Oh my goodness!  They love it!!  Someone said to me, "Sounds like Surf Mom, not Soccer Mom for you!"

It is a local surfing school who also run several outreach camps throughout the summer.  So, early in the summer, I signed Carl up for this week that is designated for children with autism.  At that time, Gretchen had no interest in surfing which was fine - I thought I was unable to sign her up.  Of course, we have been excited for Surf Camp all summer long and her interest grew.  Yesterday, we brought her a pail and shovel and she and I expected to spend a couple hours building sand castles while Carl surfed.

Well, after signing in each child was given a black long sleeved rash guard shirt to help identify them as part of the group.  Carl began telling me I could not stand next to him (while he was on his chosen yellow surf board) because I was "not in the club."   "You do not have a black shirt.  You need to wait over there."   Gretchen got scolded by him as well.  (back story... the kids took a great 2 hour nap in the afternoon and had a nice protein snack/dinner at about 3:30 before we headed to the beach.  Everyone was supposed to be in a good mood.)

Oh yeah - when we first arrived, it was pouring!  Torrential rains and black skies!  No lightning, though.  But, they told us the local college had just evacuated for a tornado.  We also saw 3 water spouts out over the ocean.  And it poured!  but...  behind us, the sky was blue.  And sure enough, it blew over in about 30 minutes.  You will see from my pictures that we had glorious weather on the backside of the storm.  (don't like the weather in _______?  wait 15 minutes.  ha ha ha)  A few early pics still have a grayish sky.

The instructors lined up surf boards while families played in the water. You can't really bring a bunch of kids to the beach and expect them to not go to the water, right?   Carl claimed a yellow surfboard and sat there for probably 20 minutes just waiting to surf.  At that point, they called the parents over to talk to us and they had each child stand on a surf board.  Instructors gave the kids a few lessons and things to practice.  They told parents that we were welcomed to get in as close as we wanted to the kids, or we could stand back and watch from a distance.  They also told us our kids would hopefully have the same instructor every day this week so they wanted us to give them any pointers we might have to help the communication.  All I said about Carl was that he loves the water and the color yellow and he is very easy going.  I think Ryan was a great fit for him.  I suppose most surfer dudes (yes, both kids were referring to them as "my surfer dude") are pretty laid back.  There was a mix of male and female instructors.  Some young, some older than Lew & I.

So now, the parents were heading back to the surfers and one of the directors approached me.  "Does she want to surf?"  Apparently, he had already asked Gretchen and she said "I am not in the club"... after Carl and his black shirt instructions.  I told him she didn't qualify for the camp and he said "Yes she does.  This is for all the kids and their siblings.  It's a family event."   Oh my goodness!  How happy was Gretchen as she bounded off with Jeff to find herself a surfboard???  Crazy happy!!

So, Lew was on his way from work to see and now we had 2 little fish on surfboards.  They surfed for over an hour.  Each took a break or two.  Gretchen had to share Kevin with another little boy although, there were times when the kids had 2 instructors to 1 kid.  Honestly, any fears of drowning were quickly put to ease.  (because, wow did we sign a lengthy disclaimer to sign up) There were surf instructors in the water everywhere!  Like I said, each kid had 1 or 2 with them.  And they didn't go out very deep at all.  Sure, you have to respect Mother Nature, but I felt the kids were in very good hands.  And those hands were very close by if something went wrong.

After Carl came riding in one his very first wave - totally laying down - he made no attempt to stand at all - he joyfully announced, "Now I know how to surf!"

Now, the good stuff....  pictures!  As you see them - notice how genuinely excited the instructors are!  and enjoy how serious the kids are - tongues sticking out in serious surf attention!

 I love this one!!

 Here is the only shot I got with both of them close to each other.

 At one point, I overheard Carl say to Ryan, "This is the best thing ever"  and Ryan replied, "I think so, too."

 At the end, Ryan was able to help Gretchen too.

 The reason she is not in black was because they only had an XL left.  It was huge on her... she would have tripped on it.  They were pleased she already had a good surfing shirt and suit on from home.

On the drive home, she must have said, "I can't believe I got to surf!" a dozen times!!  They both cannot wait to go back tonight!  They are napping right now....  ah!!!  I'll try not to put up 20 pictures from every night this week, but c'mon, how often do I get to share pictures of them surfing?  I am working my way through vacation pictures, too.

my own bed

About halfway home Gretchen said she just couldn't wait to get home and sleep in her own bed.  We've been on vacation if you hadn't figured that out already.  I will tell you all about it as the photos get edited.  I will probably put each post on the actual day that it happened - so the days will progress in order.  You'll be able to follow along on the side list of post titles.  It was a fun vacation, but you know how you crave your own routine.

...and your own bed.