Playing Outside

We have been spending as much time outside as possible over the last couple of weeks. I'm dreading it getting colder and not being able to run outside easily. The kids have been trying to learn to ride their bigger bikes. Fortunately we have 2 of these tricycle like bikes. Aunt Lisa pulled one out of the garbage for the kids and the other is a hand me down from cousin Christopher. They have discovered that if they start at the top of the driveway, it is slanted enough to give them a little momentum.

Reid has started to like wearing hats when he goes outside. We don't have any that are his size, so we have tried to makedo with a couple old ones of Daddy's. He looks pretty cute with a hat on.

He did it, and he's proud.

Lost computer cord/Strolling with Strollers

So, If you have been wondering why I haven't posted any pictures lately, ask my children where the cord is to transfer pics from the camera to the computer. It went MIA, so I had to search for another one and it just wasn't at the top of the list. Its back now though so I'm catching up tonight.

I went to the Toledo Zoo almost 2 weeks ago for a program called Strolling with Strollers. We were there before the zoo opened and got to see the exhibits before there were a ton of people there. There was a guide who took us around and told us a lot about the animals that we didn't know. Its a great way to spend a few hours and its only an hour away.

I just thought this was the cutest picture. Reid just looks so curious. Like he is wondering if it is really going to move or not.Of course we had to go on the train. I'm not sure what they are looking at. I think the train is their favorite part of the zoo.
Reid checking out the giraffe on the train.

A self portrait waiting for the choo choo to start.

I always push them right up to the rail and talk about the animals. This picture has me wondering if they can even see anything. That bush looks like it is right in front of the rhino.

Checking out the sleeping orangutan.

Notre Dame

This past weekend we went to South Bend to visit with Rob's family. Rob and his brothers went to the football game with their Uncle Craig. (thank you Aunt Connie for giving up your ticket so the brothers could go together). I walked to the stadium with the guys just so the kids could see what was going on. For those of you who are reading this who haven't had the experience of going to a college football game, it is quite an experience. Lots full of people tailgating. People walking all over campus. There are some very loyal fans. Tons of stuff for the kids to look at and great people watching.

After the guys headed into the game, I walked across campus to take the kids to the pond. I knew there would be some ducks there for them to feed. We didn't get out of the stroller. I knew that would be a disaster. Luckily the ducks and swans were close enough to the edge that they could feed them from their seats.

I think that swan in front of the stroller would have come right up and taken it out of our hands They seemed pretty tame.
This is a picture of the kids in front of the Golden Dome. It is Notre Dame's famous landmark. It is on the building that is at the center of campus with a statue of the Virgin Mary on top of it.
You can see it from wherever you are on campus. I think it just has administration offices in the building now.


We also stopped at the Grotto which is by the pond. The Grotto is a cave of stones where you can pray. There are candles to light and benches to sit on. We said a prayer for our friend Tuesday while we were there.
The Grotto is just a peaceful place. No matter what craziness is going on in the world, it is just so peaceful there. When I was on bedrest, my MIL and her friend Barb came here and said a prayer for the twins and I.

Halloween Camping

Two weekends ago we went Halloween Camping with our good friends at the Monroe KOA campground. We rented a cabin close to our friends.It was a lot of fun. Each site decorates and then all the kids get to go trick or treating from site to site. Unfortunately the whole campground lost power in the late afternoon so there were no lights to see the spectacular decorations on all of the sites. I didn't even decorate the cabin we were in. We just went to hang out with our friends. Some people go all out. There was a whole family there dressed as the Flintstones. Complete with their car and their site decorated as Bedrock. There are costume contests, pumpkin carving contests, mini golf competition, fishing competition, coloring of bags and pillowcases. A ton of stuff for everyone to do.

This is Reid relaxing and having a snack.

Elsie checking out the scary tombstone that sings.
Some of the girls-Olivia, Grayce, Ally, Elsie and Emily.
Reid was a dinosaur. The hat stayed on for this picture only.
This is all of us. Elsie was Abby Cadaby from Sesame Street. Elsie didn't do much trick or treating. She was refusing to walk or ride in the wagon that night. She wanted to be carried and that wasn't happening. So she stayed at the site and passed out candy with me. Rob and Reid went out for a bit. Reid was actually starting to say trick or treat and was enjoying getting treats.

Before you ask, Elsie isn't cyanotic(lacking oxygen), she had a blue sucker.
The kids walking with Daddy.
Elsie with Mommy handing out candy.
Elsie getting ready. Carrying both baskets and her own Abby doll.

An update about Tuesday on Tuesday

A few of you have asked about our twin friend Tuesday, so I figured I should give a quick update. She is doing great. This is a recent family picture. Dad and Mom-Charlie and JK, big brothers-Axel and Spencer, and twin sis Piper. They were at a party for a new friend they made in the hospital. An end of chemo party. JK says that Tuesday is acting like a normal little 2 yr old. She has to go back to the hospital soon for her 4th of 6 rounds of chemo. They are very grateful for everyone's thoughts and prayers. Keep them coming, as they seem to be working. Christy(another mom on our twin board) made the Tuesday tshirts for the family. A bunch of us in our group bought tshirts to help raise some money for Tuesday's family.

Today we wore our shirts to our new gymnastics class. Here is Elsie sprinting down the trampoline runway. There's not much learning going on, its mostly a lot of running around.

And Reid, laughing all the way down the trampoline.
Christy has set up a web site where anyone can go and buy Tuesday gear.

http://www.cafepress.com/christeez

So if anyone wants to buy something, all of the profits go to helping Tuesday's family pay for whatever their insurance isn't covering. Every little bit helps.

Birthday Weekend

Wow, if you can believe it, our kids turned 2 last Sunday. I can't believe it myself. It seems like just yesterday that I was confined to a bed and that room in the hospital.

We had a small party here at home on the weekend. Grandma and Chloe(the dog) came from SouthBend. Nana and Papa came from Exeter and were able to bring Taya with them. Everyone arrived on Friday night. We had some Jets pizza for supper. Pizza is one of the kids favorite meals. If only you could hear Reid saying "PIZZA" you'd understand the pleasure he gets from it. He loves it.

On Sat we ventured out to a couple of parks with the kids. This is Reid going down one of the slides. He looks like such a big kid here. No more baby at all. Elsie in the backyard. She likes to walk along the bricks around the flower beds like they are a balance beam.
Here are the 4 of us. Elsie looks a little scared in this picture. I don't know if she knew what was going on. The cookie monster and Elmo cakes were made by Nana. Thank you so much. I know the kids loved them!!!! We also had some Elmo cupcakes that Taya helped Nana make.
Blowing out the candles.
Admiring the Thomas the train set that Reid got from Aunt Lisa, Uncle Denny, Zak and Ally. (friends of mommy's)
Finally the next morning Daddy set up the train. They LOVE it.
As you can see they absolutely love the train. It has to be hidden completely or all I hear all day long is a little boy forlornly(is that the correct word??)saying "choo choo" In this pic they were touching it and making it stop. They were giggling sooo hard.
On Sunday morning we wanted to go to the Toledo Zoo and take Taya. Well it was pouring rain in the morning, so we decided not to go. We went to the local petting farm instead. Here are Elsie and Taya with the rabbit that hops around the lobby.
After the barn you have to wear off some energy. Running, running, running. A favorite thing to do these days.
There is a small pond that has some big gold fish and painted turtles.
On Monday we went for our 2 yr checkup. Everything was fine. They had one shot each and had their hearing tested. No problems at all. Hopefully we won't have to return until our 3 yr check next year. We will be hoping for healthy ears for Elsie. No ear infections this year.

Labor Day Weekend

So we had a pretty mellow weekend. I spent part of Saturday sleeping because I was on call got home at about 5am. That night we just bbq'd and made a fire in the fire pit. Our neighbours Chuck and Lisa came over for a few drinks. We let the kids stay up a little later than usual to watch the fire with us. On Sunday Rob went to see the Grand Prix Race on Belle Isle in downtown Detroit. I didn't want to stay at home with the kids so we went to Elizabeth Park to do some people watching, play on the playground and walk along the river. Rob got home in time to join us for a bit. Then on Monday, our neighbour Lisa invited us to go to her work(the Automotive Hall of Fame) to an event that was being held. Hot Wheels was celebrating its 40th anniversary. Its a travelling event that started in California and has come across the country. Well who knew this would be such a huge event. I guess I didn't realize there were such huge Hot Wheels collectors. We stood in a huge line to get our commemorative edition hot wheel car.(they're selling for $35-$80 on e-bay) There had to be at least 1000 people there. We had no desire to stand in such long lines to get autographs of the designers or to spin a wheel and win a car, so we just wandered around a bit and then went in to the museum. So unfortunately I didn't take a lot of pictures.

This is Reid checking out one of the life size cars. Of course his favorite thing was the tires. Why are little boys obsessed with tires???Here he is inside. He was looking at things so much that I couldn't get him to look at me.
And then, this is Elsie. She wouldn't stand up, so you couldn't even see her.
I took this picture today. They were sitting on their play garage pretending that it was a train. They kept saying "choo choo"