A Crabby Weekend

On Friday night we went to look for ghost crabs at a local state park. If you are going to be spending time at the Delaware beaches, you should check out the events that are held at the state parks. The events sound like a lot of fun.

We got to the ranger station at 8:30 but had to wait until it was dark at 9:00. I am not complaining; I love the long days. It was a full moon so it was a perfect night for a walk on the beach. The park rangers told us about the ghost crabs and what to expect and do on the walk. We did the same walk two years ago but we didn't see any ghost crabs. Of course, we still had fun because it is always fun to walk on the beach and little kids always love flashlights.

This year we saw several ghost crabs. I rotated these pictures on my computer and they are saved that way but for some reason they are uploading sideways.
I actually spotted a crab running in front of Wesley but I wasn't sure if it was a crab or spider. John and Wesley quickly confirmed that it was a ghost crab.

So, on Friday at the beach Wesley found sand crabs and that night we saw ghost crabs. On Saturday he went with Chris, Lang, and John to catch crabs with traps and try fishing for the first time.

The chicken used in the crab traps was left outside for over 12 hours. Apparently the crabs don't like fresh chicken.

Here is one of the crabs they caught. All of the crabs were released back into the water.

Wesley has been wanting to go fishing for a long time but Chris doesn't fish.

Lang was gracious enough to let Wesley try fishing and show him to how to cast the rod. The guys didn't catch any fish that morning. Chris manned the camera and made sure he didn't touch any equipment or animals since he didn't have a license.

Here is Wesley pulling up a crab trap.

And Wesley holding a crab.

Lang purchased steamed crabs on Sunday for all of us to eat. In the 90 some degree heat on Sunday, he cooked potatoes, corn, onions, scallops, mussels, and claims in a deep fryer (like a turkey fryer) to go with the crabs. The meal was delicious. I was so happy to eat it that I forgot to take a picture of all of us enjoying the great food.

So, it was a crabby weekend in the best sense.

Bethany Beach Day 1

We left home early Friday morning to visit our friends at Bethany Beach. The kids had swim lessons, then we had lunch, and then we hit the beach.
The kids had fun digging in the sand.

Wesley found several sand crabs.

Wesley and Lydia loved playing in the waves with Chris.

Chris and Wesley.

Chris, Wesley, and Lydia. I think Chris enjoys the beach more now than he did prior to having kids. I have always loved the beach and I am so grateful to our good friends for hosting us and taking us to the beach.

The kids liked the waves. That is Wesley in there with Chris.

Rescued by Daddy.

Lydia loves writing, even writing in the sand.

Another big wave knocked Wesley over but he was just fine.

Here are Lydia and Joseph. They look like twins.

Before dinner Mr. Lang taught Wesley how to throw a baseball.

We had a yummy steak dinner but the fun was not over for the night.

More Ballet

Here are a couple of videos from Lydia's last ballet class. She might take another ballet and tap class in the fall.

That's My Girl!

As a kid I loved swimming. I have many wonderful memories of days spent at the pool with friends. As an adult, I have really enjoyed snorkeling and I can't wait to take my kids snorkeling. Chris and I started the kids in swim lessons at an early age because I love swimming so much and I think it is a lot of fun to play with them in the water (and I think Chris enjoys it also).

Wesley learned how to swim last summer and my goal for this summer is for Lydia to learn to swim by herself. She is getting there! These are some videos taken on Saturday.

I am so glad that the kids enjoy swimming.

Wesley showed off his cannon ball.

Wesley wanted to show off his swimming. He also learned how to float on his back.

He is Five!

Today is Wesley's birthday. The day started with gymnastics and then I took the kids to the movies for the first time. We saw Toy Story 3 in IMAX 3D. It was great and the kids loved it. (I cried when Andy went to college.) I think it was worth the $37 we spent to see the movie. We never go to the movies and I can't imagine spending that kind of money on a regular basis to see movies. Yes, it would have been cheaper to see it the regular old way (no 3D, no IMAX) but we will see it like that a hundred times in our house. Of course Lydia didn't wear her 3D glasses the entire time. Why don't they make kid sized glasses for movies like that? I kept having to put her glasses back on her.

We split a large popcorn and I had a large Sprite. I must say I left the movie theater feeling very rested. I think I needed to sit still in the A/C and just rest for a while.

Once we were back at home Lydia took a short nap. Chris came home early and woke her up from her nap so he could take the kids swimming.

After dinner Lydia sang happy birthday to Wesley.

When Lydia finished her cupcake she had a meltdown for a second cupcake. I can't believe she thought she was getting another cupcake.

Then it was present time. Here is Wesley with his first Webkinz, a shark.
Wesley also received a stuffed buffalo. The kids are hoping we will eventually have one of every kind of animal, either stuffed or plastic.
Buzz is very funny in the latest movie.

Wesley wanted to pop the huge bubble paper that some of the presents were wrapped in. The boy can jump!

Another Lego set!

Wesley saw this at the store and then asked his grandparents to get it for him. No, he hasn't seen the movie but he thinks dressing up like Iron Man is pretty cool.

He said to me, "Look how strong I am." Chris had to cut the box open with scissors.

A new, bigger bike. Now, he will be really fast.

When I came downstairs after brushing the kids' teeth, I saw the display Chris had made of all the loot Wesley got tonight (minus the new bike). These gifts were all from family members. We didn't wrap them, we just undid the tape and let him pull them out of the boxes and he was very happy with that.

Father's Day

This morning Wesley woke us up at 6:30 stating that he was starving. He knows he should stay in bed until 7 but he often wants to get up earlier. The truth soon came out this morning. He said he wanted to do something from the "director set", meaning his erector set. So, Chris, being the great dad he is, got up and played with the kids instead of working out which was his original plan (he did workout in the afternoon).
Here is the robot from the erector set.

The children's ministry at our church gave all the kids little cards that said, "You are tops Pops" to give to their fathers. Attached to the card was a lollipop. Of course, our kids couldn't wait to eat the lollipops and they saw no reason to give them to daddy.

On the way to lunch, Wesley asked us, "When will there be little boys' day?" Too funny!

Happy Father's Day Chris. You are the best and we love you!

Spray Park Fun

Today we met some of our neighbors at our favorite spray park. It was very crowded when we first got there but then a lot of people left.
On the way there, Wesley and Lydia told me how much they love picnics. I am glad I packed some lunch for them instead of just feeding them in the car from the drive-thru. They ate yogurt, cheese, strawberries, and peanut bars.
Before and after lunch, my kids played in the sprayers.

They also loved playing in the sand. Wesley liked balancing on this toy.

Lydia liked playing with the binoculars.

Ah, an old favorite for Wesley.

After a lot of sand and playground time, the kids wanted to go back to the sprayers.

Then they climbed on the playground while drying off.

Wesley liked sliding down this.

We finally left after being there for over two hours. I went through a drive-thru to get us all more water and the kids wanted chicken nuggets and apples. So, they had a second lunch from the drive-thru and ate it in the car. We came home and all took naps.

Gymnastics- Wordless Wednesday

(You can hear some of the other moms talking on these videos.)

Wesley teacher wants him to join a developmental team but we won't be doing it because it meets twice a week for two hours each time.

Fifth Birthday Party

Today was Wesley's birthday party. This if the first real party we have had for the kids. We have celebrated in their preschool classrooms but we have never hosted a party for either one of them. About six weeks ago, Wesley started begging for a party with his friends.

I remembered the director of women's ministry at our church telling me that she had several birthday parties for her boys at Hidden Pond Nature Center. She said, "You show a boy a snake and he thinks it is a great party." Wesley agreed that it sounded like a great idea because he really had fun when we went with MOPS last year. He helped me pick out these cute invitations online.
We had around 21 total kids there today. Three high school volunteers brought the animals down to the classroom and a did a presentation for the kids.

Here a few of the boys are looking at and touching a very small snake. I love the look of joy on Hunter's face.

Here is Evan touching one of the turtles.

Lydia touching the rat snake...

... and the corn snake. The volunteer said that farmers named them corn snakes because they found them in corn fields and they thought the snakes were eating their corn but the snakes were actually eating the rats.

The corn snake is Wesley's favorite snake so I made a special request that it be included in the presentation.

After seeing all the animals up-close. We went on a walk around the pond to see the turtles. Thankfully it wasn't too hot and humid for a short walk.

I think the pond is really pretty.

I thought we would do a whole frog/turtle/snake theme for the party but Wesley really wanted a dragon cake. BJ's told us that they could do a photo of a dragon on the cake if we brought in the photo we wanted. We showed Wesley a lot of clip art dragons and he picked this one.

I think he liked everyone singing Happy Birthday to him.

A little while after we were finished with eating cake I realized I needed to clean Lydia up a little.

Chris did temporary tattoos for the kids. I think all but a couple of the kids wanted tattoos.

Wesley had a great time and I think the other kids did also.