Yummy Goodness From Our Patio

Our tomato plant.
The proud gardeners.

The tomato eater.

Swim Lesson

Today Wesley had his second individual lesson with one of the lifeguards at our pool. She is from the Czech Republic and she is super sweet and patient with him. Wesley does great with his backpack on but he is afraid without it. He did much better during the second lesson.
What struck me most about today's lesson was the fact that four other lifeguards, friends of Wesley's swim teacher, watched the lesson and cheered for Wesley. It warmed my heart to hear them encouraging him and I think it helped him.

Here they are practicing blowing bubbles.

After practicing with Juliet, he was comfortable swimming with the swim noodle with me.

After two hours at the pool (we had lunch there) the kids are taking good naps right now.

Father Son Campout

This weekend Chris took Wesley on our Sunday School's Father/Son Campout. It wasn't as hot as last year but it was still the hottest day we have had so far.
It warms my heart to see and hear the dads and sons worshiping God together.

Wesley wanted to take the stomp rocket on the camping trip.
It was a big hit with the kids.

He played briefly at the playground.

Wesley was more into roasting the marshmallows and eating the s'mores than last summer.

Chris said that about 10 PM Wesley said he was tired and wanted to go to bed. He had trouble falling asleep and stayed awake until about 11:30. He was wide awake at 6:15 the next morning. Father and son both took a nap on Saturday.

The boys had fun throwing rocks in the lake.

Prior to going down to the lake the dads did individual devotionals with their sons. The man seen reading in this photo had printed out the devotions for the dads. He read the creation story from Genesis to the entire group. This was a wonderful opportunity and beautiful spot to talk about God's creation. I am so glad that Chris and Wesley got to spend some specail time together this weekend. I think Chris will start taking Lydia on the Father/Daughter campout next year.

Snake!

Today I got my exercise by pushing the kids in the double jogger for over three miles. At one point Wesley said something about a snake trying to get in the water. I may have said something about his pretend snakes. He said, "No, Mommy. A real snake was right back there."

What? I turned around and saw it on the bridge. I had walked within a couple of feet of the snake but I had not noticed.
I think this is black rat snake. I should have taken a picture of the two excited kids in the stroller. Of course, we once again had a talk about how if you see a snake, run away and tell an adult, don't touch it!

Earlier in our walk we saw two deer. I think I will have to start walking with my D-SLR camera. My cell phone did okay taking pictures of the snake but you can't really see the deer in the pictures.

We had a picnic lunch at Lee District Rec Center today. The playground there is covered during the summer so it wasn't too hot. As we were driving up to the parking lot we saw a fox in the grass beside of the road. Lydia and I got a good look at it but I didn't have time to get out my camera.

Apparently today was a good day for wildlife viewing.

Love Thy Neighbor

Have you ever been to your neighborhood home owners association meetings? The meetings in my neighborhood have given me a deeper understanding of the commandment, Love Thy Neighbor.

I started attending the HOA meetings in the spring of 2008 because I wanted to support some other moms who were asking for a new playground. Our neighborhood has a couple of small, but nice playgrounds; however, the playground beside our club house and pool was the old wooden kind that you don't see very often. The wooden structure was built around 1998 and was an eyesore. I didn't let my kids play there for fear that they would get splinters.

Of course when the issue of spending money comes up, some people get a little testy. We pay dues to our HOA and I am actually disappointed that they spend so little of the money. Up until recently a lot of updates and repairs were not done in the community thus resulting in the neighborhood looking worse than it did six years ago when we moved in. Several very vocal neighbors really don't want to spend money on anything, especially not a playground.

Vi and I have chaired the recreation community for the last year. We planned and organized several neighborhood events, but that is about all we did.

When the issue of the playground came up again in January, one of our neighbors sent out numerous hateful and untrue emails about Vi and me. Lucky for us, she has moved on to attacking other people now.

This one difficult neighbor isn't the only one who has been very vocal about their anger over the fact that the board did vote to spend the money on a new playground. The money came out of this yearly budget and not the capital reserves but that didn't make them any happier. I love this new playground. The builder brought three designs to a community meeting that was open to everyone. (There were actually two meetings before the board voted.) There were dissenters at the meetings but those in favor of the playground looked at the designs and said what they liked the most. The builder then did another drawing with the components that people liked the most. I think it is a wonderful design.
There are several climbing structures and my kids loved climbing them. Lydia isn't ready for this helix but Wesley had no problem with it.

Lydia did master the chain ladder.

Wesley loved hanging and spinning on this. I have to admit that I am afraid that he will go flying off and break his arm.

In the picture above, do you see the huge open space? Well, that is a little hard to explain.

It used to be a sand volleyball area. We have lived here six years and I have never seen anyone playing there. About two or three years ago, a bee problem started. Every summer the place would be yellow taped and then fumigated. Last year all the sand had to be dug up once it was safe to mess with the sand.

There are a few neighbors, mainly two, who strongly support and defend the volleyball court. I have yet to figure out why they are so loyal to the court.

So, between the very vocal supporters of the volleyball court and the county regulations about how it has to stay a recreation area since it was originally developed that way (I don't understand this), that area wasn't used for the new playground. So, as God continues to teach me about loving my neighbors, my kids get to enjoy playing.

Little Helpers

Thanks Dad for trimming the holly tree and for taking care of all the weeds and thank you for being patient with your little helpers.

Crazy Hair

Lydia often has crazy hair, especially when she wakes up.

Here it is looking calmer.

Snakes N Trains

Wesley wanted a snake cake for his birthday.
On Saturday night we celebrated his birthday with cake at home.
Chris and I decorated the outside of his door before he woke up on Sunday. Both kids really like these hanging decorations.
On Sunday we took him to see Thomas again.

One of my friends teases me about the fact that Chris and I find something we enjoy and then we just do it over and over again. She had to eat her words a little because she is now hooked on Disney and has been to Disney World thee times and Disney Land once in less than two years (and I think I have them talked into going on a cruise next year and they might just get hooked on that also).

Apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in our family. When we asked Wesley what he wanted to do for his birthday he consistently told us, "I want to go see Thomas again."

Here is the useful little engine pulling his passenger cars.

Waiting to board Thomas.

Wesley liked the cranky cars.

Lydia needed help to make it around the track. Chris said that he thought she just rested her hands on the handles as he pushed her. It looks like she is trying in this picture.

I rode the little train, Cagney, with the kids.

As you can see, they liked it.

Chris said I wasn't doing my share of the work on the pump car.

We took this kettle corn on the Strasburg Rail Road.

Wesley, once again, was more excited about riding the "black engine" than Thomas.

Wesley with my parents.

The kids love having their pictures taken with characters but Sir Topham Hatt scared Lydia. He is rather strange looking.

On the bus back to the parking lot, Lydia quickly fell asleep.

My dad did some research and discovered that the best option for dining on Sunday in the Amish country would probably be Miller's. Since he did the research and it was Father's Day, we had no problem accepting his choice. He suggested I look up the menu online and I am glad I did because I found a coupon for $3 off for each adult.

The food was good and we had a super nice waitress. At the end of the meal, she brought out a cake for Wesley. He loved the attention and was excited to take the cake home (he had already had two desserts from the Smorgasbord).

The kids slept some on the way home but woke up when pulled in the driveway. Wesley was very excited to open his gifts.

This gift from Uncle David, Aunt Amanda, Claire and Lucy might be his favorite.

His First Birthday

Wesley really enjoyed his first birthday cake. You may have to turn up the volume to hear just how much he enjoyed the cake.

Dress Up Sunday

Wesley and Ainsley came out of Sunday School wearing cool capes. Nancy and I joked about needing some photos to show at their wedding and Chris gave his standard line, "I don't think their spouses will appreciate the photos." Michele hosted a wonderful party for Nancy Sunday afternoon. We all had such a good time.

Wesley and Evan dressed up as pirates. The moonbounce was a huge hit with the kids.I love this picture of Wesley and Evan. They were unbelievable cute in the snorkel mask and goggles. Ah, the cool refreshment of a popsicle. Thanks Michele and Barry! We had a wonderful time!