The cascade park in Salem

After school on friday the boys, dad and I went to salem and went to play at some parks. We ended up at the cascade park behind the walmart by lowes. They have fields and play equipment to play on in the back and in the front a big fishing hole that is connected to a river of sorts. We had some stale goldfish crackers so the boys got to feed the birds. They just walk up to you and throw the food at them. It was a good day.

Field Trip

We went on a Field Trip to the Enchanted Forest on Friday with Travis' classroom. We had a blast and of course he wants to go again. We had three of his friends in our group and they were great, a little tired and restless on the way home of course. What was really neat for me and Travis is that dad was able to go with us, he ended up taking the day off to go. So here is a bunch of pictures of our day!!
Enjoy...........

We are waiting to get through the castle to enter into the rest of fairy tale land

Here is Humpty on his wall, the boys recited most of the stories here

Looking at Miss muffets spider and thinking how BIG it is,

The rabbit hole is right here too,

you get to crawl down and end up in a key hole,

really dark and fun

Running to the next bunch of fun,
I got mostly shots of the backs of heads running away from me

The home of the tree bears,

Goldie Locks sleeping upstairs in the beds,

Mrs Halligan going through the crooked house with Travis,



The Shoe slide, the big item for the boys we went down it about 6 times


More slide,



Abraham Lincoln in Western town,

The boys were shocked to see him because they learned in class that he died and so the Big ticket question of the day was how in the world could he be here?




Travis going down the Fort slide in western town, really cool,

The 7 minute water show, the boys LOVED it, good time to take a rest!!!

Travis and Cordell watching the show with all interest,

The end of the day, waiting for the bus to get ready for us to board, and the boys wanting more time to play and explore.

Picture a Day #60

Best day for a while, we went to the Enchanted Forest for the kindergarteners field trip, the favorite of the day was the shoe slide!

Picture a Day #59

I said to smile, so he smirks.
I guess that is what hubbies do, huh

Picture a Day #58

This is Bob, he is mickeys fish and we took this today for his report. He is now 2yrs old and is really funny to watch. He knows when its feeding time-he tries to take the food from your hand. He is a big pig fish.

Picture a Day #57

This is a very protective bird. At our apartments the birds have nested in every balcony underhang-notice the poop stains to the left of the bird. I get to listen and watch the two parent birds every morning they have a wonderful chirp and song for me. They feed the babies in the morning and take baths. It is such a wonderful thing to wake up to.

Picture a Day #56

Picture of a deer on another outing of ours

Picture a Day #55

We decided to go on a site-seeing road trip. I took this out on Simpson Road, the clouds around the mountain and the sunset were Awesome!!!

Picture a Day #54

The kids like to go and hunt for peacocks over in monmouth, today we found two just wandering in the middle of the road. We sat there for maybe 10 min. and they seem way to comfortable, (the kids stay in the van)

Picture a Day #53

Travis can say his abc's now without help.
We have been working so hard and it is so awesome.

Picture a Day #52

We went shopping for shoelaces for the girls for softball and Travis found these that he HAD to have. Dad is not to keen on them but Travis loves them.

Picture a Day #51

We made this in scouts on wednesday. It is a solar smores outdoor cooker. It is made out of pizza boxes, tin foil, plastic wrap, and black paper. I dont know about all the boys but i know mickey liked it. We still have yet to have a good day to use it.
I do a lot of the activities and hope that the boys enjoy them.
I dont know about some of the parents, but as long as the boys like it.

Picture a Day #50

Game night and then we read a book. This is travis's favorite game, HUNGRY HIPPOS. Then we played some jenga, i love spending fun time with the kids. It helps relax me for the night.

Picture a Day #49

This was the only picture taken today and its really not my favorite. Still in my jammies and blogging!!

Fun Sunday

Well Sunday was mickeys party and i had been cleaning for 2 days hoping that having it that clean will help me keep it clean. Anyway, what a fun day. We got up and everyone showered and had breakfast. Then mickey and i decorated the house and I put my finishing touches on the cookie and cupcakes. We also got out the big canopy, sprinkler, chairs and goodie bags. As the time drew closer I kept getting phone calls from people calling last minute to CANCEL, what a bummer. Mickey decided it was okay because that meant it was one on one for him and his guest. What a nice and wonderful boy I have. So here are the pictures in order......

The table with the presents and cookie waiting for mickey.....

The boys playing before the party started....

some cool t-shirts he got...

Fantastic four action figures.....

The main event- the skate board, mom is still not to sure about it
This set has two boards, two sets of wheels, tools and struts.....

Grandma being silly and wearing the mask with her glasses....

Mickey blowing out the candles and ready to eat that cookie....

Playing outside in the sprinkler, having a blast with all the kids.....

All the kids in the water,
mom of course in the under the canopy out of the sun......

Mickeys birthday dinner cooking and the men doing there god given duty,
tending the BBQ.

Picture a Day #48

He wanted a giant chocolate chip cookie for his party and so out came my baking skills. I made this from my brain and cookie skills. I didnt use any recipe, i made my own and it was the best cookie i have ever had in my life!!!

I think its better than "mrs fields" cookies.

(hard for me to say, i love those cookies!)

Picture a Day #47

Summer, green, flowers, sprinkler, waterguns= FUN

(picture compliments of Travis)

Picture a Day #46

Happy Birthday Mickey!!!

This is one of his best, he is nine and I cant believe it.

It makes me so sad, but happy at the same time.

Picture a Day #45

I missed him getting his awards, the camera died on me, so here is one of him playing a game during the pack meeting. Next year will be interesting, I will have 2 in scouts!!!

Softball

Today was Sam's first softball game!!

It was a great game, they gave it there best and I am so proud of them. They played like have been doing it for months. It was 90 degrees out and little wind. (i am a lobster!) Sam made two runs and stole LOTS of bases!! They didn't win but they were awesome. They were so excited that it didn't phase them that they lost. I am so proud of them. They also got there jerseys and visors today so with that and there socks they looked great. I didn't get any pictures because THE BATTERIES DIED on me!!! And for once i didn't have any extra with me. I will post a picture of her in her uniform in the next couple days. Did i say I am so proud and I was the loudest mom there!

Great day and good fun.

kindergarten or First Grade?????

Kindergarten or first grade, that is the question.

Both schools don't like the idea of holding tman back(even though he likes the idea) so there fix at the new school is to have him do kindergarten for about one month and then retest him and they want him to go into a first grade class. Now to me that is like a tease, or a get used to this one then change. He doesn't do well with change and cracks under pressure. He freezes up and wont do a darn thing. Its just part of him right now and they don't get it. His teacher this year knows because it took him almost the first half of the year to get into the groove and like it and feel comfortable enough to participate. So to me its like they don't listen to his teacher and just think we are exaggerating or something.

He has come so far
- he can write his name-first and last,
- he knows his alphabet
- numbers
- sight words
- he can jump with both feet
- he can run
-he can write, mom, dad, sam, mickey, liam, zachary, max, haley, star wars, etc...

He has come so far and to see the school not going ahead and doing what they know is right and what will help him is so frustrating. The school told me that they know something is up when they see me coming. I must have the "i mean business" look on my face or something. I wish the teacher he has now could be his forever. She totally gets him and she works with him and really tries to know what he is thinking/saying.

Now i have an idea, i have yet to run it past dad. Hes not home from work yet. Let me know what you think.
I was thinking-so was his current teacher, what if he did morning kindergarten and afternoon first grade. It would be a way for ALL of us to get what we want. (even tman.)

Picture a Day #44

I was goofing off and found this for my background.

It made my day.

It was a CRAZY day.

Picture a Day #43

Going on a cruise with the neighbor girl!! How cute, it was just a lazy day after school.

you might be a mother if.....

You might be a mother like me if..........


you can tell the difference between milked down chocolate milk. ( make it last longer)

you consider doing a trash run through the van your chore for the afternoon.

you can make spaghetti sauce into more than two other meals other than spaghetti.

you consider the grocery clerk your friend that knows way too much about your families eating habits.

your blogging is "mommies quiet time".

you hide in the bathroom for important phone calls.

you know when the house is quiet its a BAD thing.

you know that the first one to say "not me" or "it wasn't me" is really the culprit.

you think doing your hair is washing it, combing it out and flicking it.

you know mothers day is just like valentines day, homemade goodies from kids and still housework in your sights.

you know you need to fold laundry when you cant reach the tv to turn it off/on when the remote is lost.

you know that spilled laundry soap or dried beans are salvageable.

you wait til the kids are asleep to clean there room and get rid of stuff in it.

Now i know this may seem funny to some but think about it. I can list more but i am not ready to list more.

Picture a Day #42

Today was just the regular, school, softball, primetime, dinner, book bed. Travis wanted to be strong before bed so he could scare off the "RAR RARS"( monsters)

Picture a Day #41

Today I went to get my hair done, I wanted a change. It was down to my waist and now........

At my shoulders!!!!!

I love it, I am so ready for summertime. I havent had my hair this short since high school.

Happy Mothers Day

My grandmother wrote this for her mom before she passed and I love it. It gets down to how most of us feel about our moms. Through no matter what she is always there.

Mother

Mom is what I call her most,

She is the best, I really must boast.

Others are nice but they cant compare,

Her love is there ready to share.

Tender but tough, hardworking too,

The children leave but her work isnt through.

Happy in just knowing her children are well,

Proud of her family, he world she will tell.

Ever ready to lend a helping hand,

There is none better in entire land.

Rich with love, wealth beyond maeasure,

Family to her is the worlds greatest treasure.

Large or small, young or old,

Hair of white or brown or gold;

Professional or domestic, whatever her style,

On loan from God for a little while;

Sent here for us to cherish and love her,

Thank you God, Thank you for MOTHER.

Mary Anne Dougherty

30th April, 2000

Picture a Day #40

This is one of my mothers day gifts!!
Travis made me a cookbook with his fellow classmates.
Travis's recipe was pepperoni pizza with cheese. So we thought it only practical that Travis followed his recipe and made us all pizza. He even invited Sarah and Justin over to share it with them.
It was a hit, they all had at least 2 pieces each and wished they could fit more inside of them.