Entertainment?

What passes for entertainment at our house sometimes is quite interesting...like this week when both kids set their chairs up in front of the front door to watch the garbage truck empty our trash.


There could be worse things...

The great outdoors...sort of

This past weekend was our 2nd time camping with the kids.  We took them last summer and they enjoyed it so we gave it another go.  Carter always asks when we are going to go camping and points out campers when we are driving...(although there are a couple extra syllables in his drawl).  
We arrived to the campgrounds at Mohican State Park on Friday afternoon and set up the camper.  It was very hot so we headed over to the pool before dinner.  Carter was not comfortable in the pool on his own since he could not touch the bottom like he can in our pool, but Cassidy was busy swimming back and forth.
We enjoyed cooking hot dogs on the fire that evening and the kids even helped cook their own.  We also enjoyed the Smores for dessert.
On Saturday, we got in a nice hike through the woods and some skipping rocks on the creek before the rain started.  We went to the commissary for some ice cream and Cassidy enjoyed riding her bike in the rain.  The rest of the afternoon was filled with DVDs and naps...by Carter and me...not Cassidy.  
It did stop raining in time for us to make another campfire and have our Smores again.  
BSS 

The Call

This past weekend marked the two year anniversary of us getting "the call" from our consultant about a little 15 month old boy that she thought would be a good fit for our family and us for him.  It is hard to believe it has been  two years.  He has fit so well into our family that it seems like he has been with us forever.

While it is hard to know exactly what, if anything, he remembers from his days in the orphanage in China, he does mention some things some days.  The other day he mentioned that when he was in China his Nai Nai took him to see some Panda Bears and they were big.

Practice makes perfect

Cassidy starts Soccer practice in a little over a week and so she has been enjoying practicing kicking the ball around the back yard with me.  She loves kicking the ball past me and against the back fence at which time she puts her arms in the air and yells "GOAL!".
BSS

"Aww Shucks"

Cassidy not only loves to eat corn on the cob, but she liked shucking it as well this week...although she was not so sure about the hair on it.

Vacation Bible School

This past week, Cassidy and Carter had their first experience with Vacation Bible School at our church.  The theme was "High Seas Expedition".  I signed up to be a volunteer for the week and received a CD of the songs we would be singing.  So we have been singing them in the van for a couple months now.  Each day started and ended with singing and learning the motions that accompany each song.  In between there were crafts, stories, games and most importantly...snacks!  Overall, both kids did really well and seemed to enjoy the experience.  Carter has never had structured activities day after day and was completely worn out by Thursday. (He ended up staying home with Daddy on Friday.)

The week culminates by sharing some songs and stories with the congregation during the service on Sunday morning.  I wasn't sure if Cassidy and Carter would participate but they did.  They stood up front with all of the other kids.  Cassidy sang along (but didn't do any motions) when she wasn't pulling sections of hair in front of her face and then blowing them away.  Carter clapped a few times when he didn't have his hands in his pockets. Couldn't have been cuter...even if they are mine:)
JBS

Video clip of them on stage...

State Fair

Although Columbus is home to one of the largest state fairs in the country, we have not often taken advantage of its proximity over the years.  Having never taken the kids there, we were not sure what they would think.  With a slight respite from the heat and humidity, we ventured out to the fair this week.
Starting with the animals...we went to the sheep barn and saw several sheep being sheered and others laying around in blankets.  The kids thought it was pretty interesting until a sheep who was leaning over the railing let out a loud "Baaa".  Cassidy did not like this and wanted to leave the animal barns.  Carter enjoyed looking at some of the horses and cows, however.  Cass did like the butter cow and eventually liked petting the small lambs outside and both kids fed some baby goats.
We watched a high school band play a little of a concert and Carter loved that.
We, of course, took advantage of the fair food!  We enjoyed corn dogs, ice cream, lemon shakeups, a funnel cake and even got some popcorn for the kids before leaving.  

Teeth and Toes

Cassidy showing her pearly whites and her newly painted pink toes.