Dixie Classic Fair 2010

The great thing about October is that there are so many automatic fun things to do on the calendar, I don't really need to plan out our weekends too much.  After a good night's sleep, we skipped church and headed to the Dixie Classic Fair Sunday.  As always, we saw the animals first, and then hit the rides.  Amelia LOVED the petting zoo.  She used up her carrots way faster than Seth did.

 Nathan feeds this camel every year...I'm sure the camel would notice if we skipped a year...

There was a kids' ride promotion that day.  Unlimited rides for $8. (Normally $3-$4 per ride.)  Seth would have stayed all day, but it was unseasonably hot, and Amelia got tired on us.  We lasted until about 2pm.

Watch out kiddieland rides.  Next year, Amelia will be tall enough for most of you!  This year, even with her thick Sketchers on, it depended on how the vendor had their stake in the ground if she was tall enough.  She did enjoy the things she did get to ride!

10 years? No way!

For some reason, everyone seems to think it's been 10 years since we got out of college.  No way.  How did we get that old?  All you have to do is step on campus to realize that a LOT can change in a decade.  My sorority has a house across from campus now.  Nathan's fraternity house was torn down a few years ago so a track could be built around the soccer field.  The Pi Kapp house is near the DZ one now.  A new dorm and science building are in use.  This year's biggest change was the world's largest statue of Martin Luther (To give you some perspective, I could barely reach to set Amelia up on the platform.):

The kids got their flu vaccines on the way out of town, but we still arrived in time to watch the parade. I thought this was a cute picture...this was pre-parade, once the candy started flying, the kids were in perpetual motion!

This is our buddy, Rob.  He left LR during our sophomore year, and this is the first time we've seen him since.  We tried so hard to find him for our wedding.  He found us last year through FB.  Our class is sorry and didn't plan an official reunion, but there were a lot of people in town that we got to see.

Nathan's mom snapped this quick picture.  I love spending the day with these ladies.  Every year we put out two green tents and tailgate the day away.  It's pretty tame these days...nine kids come with these five mommas...

We did walk over to the alumni BBQ.  The kids love seeing Joe and Josie, because they know their daddy used to be Joe Bear.

Seth attended his first college football game with Grandad and Grandma Sarah.  Amelia played with the next tent's cornhole set.  Next thing you know, it was time to pack up and head home.  See you next year, LRU!

M is for Music

I am enjoying the six hours of freedom preschools allows me, but I am also finding that once in awhile, I like to go help in Seth's class during that time.  Last week I played while Amelia was at school; this week I had a hair appointment on Tuesday and today I volunteered in Seth's classroom.  I never know what I'm going to do when I get there...sometimes I help with reading stations, sometimes I get put to work.  Today I got PUT TO WORK.  The assistant had cut out the entire year's worth of "popcorn words" for all the students (don't feel too sorry for her, she had used the paper cutter).  (Popcorn words are little short words they will learn first to read...they "butter" their popcorn words on handouts, and Seth is starting to pick them out at home...I have just buttered the ones Seth already knows.)  My job was to punch holes in the corner of each word (53 words x21 kids=1,113 words...I punched three at a time=371 punches).  I then made 21 stacks with each of the 53 words, and placed the words on rings for the kids to take home.  It took me two and a half hours.  But it is so fun to listen to the kids, and this is the first time I have been around for math (domino lesson today).

Seth has been rapping chanting singing a highly obnoxious song about the letter M all week.  During snack, Mrs. G put it on for the kids, and 21 heads were bopping and singing along.  Next was letter R.  Finally, for the alphabet version, she had to remind them to finish their snacks.  (You can listen to the song on the link above.)  I remember my own "M song" from kindergarten.  I wonder if Seth will remember his when he is about to go to his ten year college reunion?

Wild Thing

Looks like somebody inherited his Grandma Sarah's and Uncle Bryan's sketching skills!

Super Hero School

After Nathan's race and some quick showers in Cary, we drove home so we could go to Ethan's fourth birthday party.  It was a Super Hero Squad party.  There were several activities for the kids, including making t-shirt capes.  At the end of the party, each kid received a diploma for completing Super Hero school.  Here is the cool cake (Ethan has the blue mask on his forehead):

This is the obstacle course.  The kids had to climb through the tunnel, save a ballerina from the burning building, walk a balance beam, swing across shark-infested waters, climb a rock wall, and slide down a slide.  They loved it!

Ethan was the poster child for what a birthday boy should be, and valedictorian of Super Hero School!

Jordan Lake Men's Only 2010

Saturday morning we headed over to Jordan Lake so Nathan could participate in the Men's Only triathlon.  It was chilly.  That meant the guys could wear wetsuits.  Nathan has liked racing in a wetsuit, and the extra buoyancy helped, because the water was very choppy.  I think Nathan is the white splash closest to the other side of the shore, based on where he said he was. 

There he goes, off to battle the wind on his bike.  (Note to self, next year, remember bikes for the kids to ride on in the parking lot.  Thank goodness for other little kids to help me entertain them!)

Here he is finishing the run.  This is the best he's looked yet finishing a triathlon.  And he hadn't even started his new medicine yet.

Triathlon season is over.  Now on to running season.  Next race, Ardmore 5k in two weeks.  Mission:  beat Cameron Kent (local anchorman who beat Nathan last fall)!

last week's recap

It took a whole lot of rain, but I think fall is finally here to stay.  I did remember to take some pictures of our roses before it started to rain.  There are very pretty right now. 

It was an abnormal week for us.  Monday was a plain ol' Monday, but Tuesday Nathan left the house at 5:30 am to fly to Philadelphia for a business trip.  He has not had to travel without me tagging along for a getaway in over four years.  The trip was thrown on him last minute, so in order to accomodate my work schedule, he had to leave early Tuesday and be back by 6pm Wednesday.  His flight home was almost an hour late and he made it home with ten minutes to spare.  Thursday, we had an overnight guest.  Seth got to bring Muzzie, the class monkey, home for the night.  Here they are Friday morning before school (Seth is dressed up for picture day):

Friday Nathan met with a pulmonologist, and is now even closer to having his breathing issues under control.  (Hallelujah!)  By the time he got home, it was time to load up the car and head to Cary for Nathan's last triathlon of the season.  Nathan said he felt like he'd been rushing for three days straight!

Salem Lake 10k

Saturday I ran my first trail race, the Salem Lake 10k.  It was humid, and it was starting to get hot (hopefully Saturday was our last 90-degree day for a while).  It was also beautiful to run around a lake and challenging to run the rolling trail while keeping an eye out for roots, rocks, and wet leaves.  I was over two minutes slower than the Bridge Run, but I'm only a month back into running and slower on the treadmill, so I didn't expect to get a PR.  You know me, I'm in it to finish.  It was a nice way to start my morning, and then I found some great deals at our neighborhood consignment sale...the combination of the two made my two-day funk go far, far away.

FINALLY!

Amelia has been READY to go to school.  Unfortunately, construction didn't finish on time on the new preschool building, so school started two weeks late, which translates to 26 days after Seth started school.  Uff-da!  By last week, Amelia was bored with our new routine.  On Thursday, we went to meet her teacher and see the new building.  Here she is sitting outside her classroom, because I knew I wouldn't be walking her in this week:

Tuesday morning she woke up a little bit early, ready for school.  I think she was the first one ready.  She took pictures with Nathan and Seth, and a bunch of silly face pictures, but here is one of the good ones:

Wearing her big girl butterfly backpack:

She was so ready, we were fourth in line for drop off.  Ms. Edna (the director) got her out of the car, and Seth's teacher from last year made sure I got a photo op before one of the other teachers took her down the hall:

She had a great time.  She says her favorite part was walking to the playground holding onto the rope with rings for the kids to hold. 

She was ready to go back today.  The teacher told me that they had to have a little talk about spitting today.  She didn't start it, but she was quick to join in when some other kids did it.  In trouble on the second day of school.  Lovely.

Angels Race 2010

Sunday morning Nathan did the Angels Race at Tanglewood.  You may remember it as his very first triathlon last year.  This year they had inflatables for the kids, and ours were the first to try them out.  This was pre-race:

Wait, this post is supposed to be about Nathan?  Okay.  This year the organizers allowed all the charity participants to go first, so Nathan was number 114.  It was ridiculous, because the people in the 100s literally walked across the pool.  Luckily, there was a ten minute break, so they were out of the water before Nathan got in.  Nathan didn't get to train the last two weeks like he'd have liked, and he said he didn't like how he felt during the swim.  You couldn't tell it by watching him!  He placed second in his age group for the swim, and ninth overall. 

Then it was time for the bike.  This is truly his training course, so he was really comfortable with the bike route.  The kids and I went back to the bounce house.

Here he is, finishing the race...eleven minutes faster than last year! 

Victor Vito, Amelia style

Almost two years ago to the day, I posted a video of Seth singing the same song.  

extended summer

We had a nice, long spring, and it looks like we're having a nice, long summer, too...it is still almost 90 degrees more days than it's not.  Saturday we drove across town for the apple festival.  It was too hot to do much more than eat lunch and buy some apples to take home.  But it was perfect weather for ice cream!

breathing easier

Nathan has always had seasonal allergies, and he's allergic to grass and smoke, so he is always gets congested after yard work and grilling.  Last week his allergies flared, and then he got a cold.  We tried to medicate at home, but he kept getting worse, instead of better.  Finally Tuesday night I realised he was having asthma (but not asthma attack) symptoms (please remember, people, I don't do big people).  Wednesday he went to the doctor.  At first the nurse said his breathing function tests were too good to need treatment.  They gave him a nebulizer, and after that his lung function tests were off the chart!  He is on a round of steroids and was given an inhaler.  He is feeling better, although the evenings are still kind of bad.  I'm glad we've finally got a diagnosis, and a plan now...he's going to be able to enjoy his weekends so much more now! 

Rally Day Picnic

Nathan has been sick, but Sunday I took the kids to the Rally Day picnic after church.  I have never gone to one at our church, but they talked it up in Sunday School, so away we went...thank goodness I had a couple big cans of baked beans in the pantry and some homemade chocolate chip cookies in the freezer!  After we ate, the kids were entertained by the "balloon man".  The snake and the apple was one of everyone's favorites!

This park had a really cool playground, so the kids could have entertained themselves...

...but Amy (in orange shirt), as always, had some great games planned.  We had a balloon popping contest, an egg hunt, sack races, and a water balloon toss...

...which didn't last long.  Then, they had one of those egg toss contests for the adults.  I thought I was safe since Nathan wasn't there, but they paired me up with a single dad.  He is also a triathlete, so I guess it was a good match-up.  We ended up getting third place out of about a dozen "couples".  (And it was his fault we got out.)  It was a fun afternoon, and it was a nice, relaxed environment for our new pastor to get to know us.

make a joyful noise

Ever so slowly, the youth program at our church is improving.  Seth loves his Sunday School buddies.  Last month a few 20-somethings volunteered to lead a youth handbell choir, and Seth loves it!  Unfortunately, I didn't figure out how to record a video on my camera until the kids were done playing, but here is a still shot:

I did figure it out in time to capture this little bit of goodness, though:

Michelle's baby shower

Saturday I went to Statesville to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Michelle and Bobby's little boy!  Michelle is my dear friend from college.  I don't get to see these girls nearly as often as I'd like to, but it always seems like a few days, rather an a whole year, has passed!  Here is the shirt I got the little guy...it says "I'm new here".  I always buy turtle stuff for my DZ babies!

Not long after I met Michelle, we found out Nathan's parents had seats at the Panthers games next to Michelle's parents.  What are the chances?  Michelle's brother is a hard-core fan.  This is what he got the baby, ha!

Me with three of the sweetest ladies ever:

Our DZ family tree:  me, Stephanie (my grand-lil), and Michelle (my lil sis):

you scratch my back...

Our baby snail doesn't come out too often, but I saw him on top of the other snail the other day.  He is about three times the size he was when I first found him.  He was so light, he could move across the surface of the water, upside down.  No new baby fish this month, everybody is just getting a little bigger.

nursery rhyme parade

So...last Friday Seth came home with a piece of paper saying there would be a nursery rhyme parade the following Friday.  The more I read, the more I realized that this was kind of a big deal.  The whole school watched the parade, and the parents were invited to watch the parade as well.  After he shot down a couple (easy) ideas, Seth decided he wanted to be Humpty Dumpty.  Heavens.  So Saturday we went to the fabric shop, and I found white pleather on sale.  Sunday getting the sewing machine set up almost brought me to tears, but Nathan saved the day, and once I started sewing, it wasn't too hard to make the egg.  I spent a better part of the day creating and accessorizing "HD".  We stood in a middle hallway of the school and got to see the kids go by four times.  They had a great time!

Seth's two favorite girls were both Lil' Bo Peep:

The teachers even participated...Mrs. G was still dressed up as a baker when I picked Seth up that afternoon!

dress up

Seth needed a costume for school today (more on that later), so I spent the better part of Sunday afternoon cutting, sewing, and gluing.  Project complete, Amelia starts having a duck that she wants me to make her a ladybug.  (She obviously had me confused with someone who is good at sewing.)  So I took her to Kmart, and she got her Halloween costume.  On Wednesday at Costco, I saw a costume I thought Seth would like.  He LOVED it and wore it all afternoon.  Thursday at the Dollar Tree, I found these foam cowboy hats.  When we got home, the next-size-up rainboots I ordered for the kids had arrived.  The kids transformed into Woody and Jessie.  This is my new favorite picture of Seth:

There was a whole bunch of "Ya-hoo"-ing as they jumped around the kitchen.  This may be the last picture on the blog of Amelia in a Pull-Up (please!).  She overheard another mommy say she could take dance class if she was potty-trained Sunday, and has asked to wear underwear all week.  I do put a Pull-Up on for naptime, and keep it on to pick up Seth, because she sometimes falls back to sleep, and we'd be SOL if she decided she needed to go potty. 

I snapped about 20 pictures while the kids were jumping around.  NOT ONE was fuzzy.  I love my new camera!

weekend houseguests

I spoke too soon about kindergarten homework.  More on that later in the week.  The cooler weather promised to us arrived Saturday morning.  We went to the park in the afternoon and brought our new camera along.  Love it!

I had the camera on the wide-angle lens option for most of the trip (not on purpose), but we did get some cool pictures of Amelia in the field!

Bryan's girlfriend was in a wedding yesterday at a nearby vineyard, so she spent two nights with us.  Free room and board does come with a price...early mornings and lots of playtime!  She and Nathan ran seven miles together yesterday...this morning she left pretty early, probably to catch up on her sleep!

And here is a picture of our other houseguest.  She has moved into one of the windows beside the front door.  This type of spider is supposed to be fairly common in our area, but I don't think I've ever seen one before.  We are enjoying having our own writing spider!

confession

I had such high hopes for our summer.  I was convinced we could have a fun-filled summer.  Well, we did, but it was a lot harder than I thought.  We used the heck out of the neighborhood pool, but this summer has been (I am not putting "was" because the high today is 96 degrees) ridiculously hot, so we haven't done a whole lot else outside.  The kids played well together for the most part.  Until it was time to run errands.  I don't know what it is about the presence of a shopping cart, but it makes the kids' good behavior go out the window.  I had to keep reminding myself that I would have shopping time alone in the fall.  And then due to construction issues, I found out Amelia's preschool won't start until late September! Luckily, she has been really good since Seth started school, especially since any sort of nap routine has gone out the window as we try to incorporate it with pick-up time.  Today is the first day she has consistently asked for Seth since the first day of school.  I had Amelia mostly potty-trained by the end of June, she got mad at me for putting her in the nursery for VBS, and it's been hit-or-miss (mostly miss) ever since.  I'm hoping preschool will provide enough peer pressure for her to finally make the decision to be done with diapers!  Seth and Amelia both got sick once during the summer, and I had two summer colds and two GI bugs.  And don't forget August, with it's Tdap vaccine, swallowed penny, and head lice!  And just so it went out with a bang, I got a jury summons in the mail on the 31st, augh! 

On a brighter note, Seth seems to really like kindergarten.  He comes home happy and wakes up excited to go back in again.  The few papers that have come home so far show us that he really is trying to do his best work while he's there.  Sometimes I have a good 30 minutes of paperwork to send back, but it's mostly just beginning-of-the-year stuff.  I am loving our new schedule (even though I am SO ready to see Seth again when it's time to pick him up).  Drop off in the morning takes about 10 minutes from when we leave the house, and then we either go to the YMCA, or come home and take Colette for a walk.  I have run a ton of errands this week.  We had a couple lunchdates.  I try to get Amelia down for a nap around 12:30, which doesn't always work.  When it's time to pick Seth up, she's either content to play in her carseat or extend her nap.  Pick-up isn't as smooth as drop off.  I usually have to sit for 10 minutes with the car off before the line starts to lurch forward, and then it takes about 15 minutes to get my boy in the car.  I bring a book, so it's not horrible, but it will be nice when it cools down a little bit!  Work has been busy lately, so twice a week I leave the house after dinner, blink twice, and it's time to come home and sleep fast before 6:45 rolls around!  I haven't worked in the intermediate nursery in over a month, and it is so nice to feel like a NICU nurse again!

latest artwork

Tae kwon do man:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom:

Seth made a unicorn for Amelia, and then she colored it in:

Amelia 2.5

Saturday, we measured our 2 1/2-year-old.  She has had a remarkable growth spurt this summer.  Tuesday, she had her check-up, and the doctor asked if he could spend extra time with her, because he was fascinated with her vocabulary.  She drew a perfect circle for him, but I told him it was a fluke.  The next post will show her usual drawing skills.  Amelia weighed 27.2 lbs, and was 35 1/4 inches tall.  They assessed her BMI, and she was 25th percentile.  Next appointment:  March, hopefully!