Happy Birthday, USA!!

Yesterday we went to the 4th of July celebration at church. They put on a great event. Noah slept and slept some more. I guess it was the 90+ temperatures and awful humidity. Makes you want to stay inside, but we braved it. Carlie liked the bounce house until she apparently hit her tooth on some other kid's head. We didn't see it happen, but that is what she said later after her hour long cry. No, she wasn't injured or anything, it was just drama at its best. Needless to day, she didn't want any part of the bounce house after that.

She somehow has learned to mark her territory when it comes to food. We had some potato chips and she put her grubby hands on top of them so we wouldn't eat them. She also "shared" a blue raspberry shaved ice with Daddy, and after it was gone, came up to me (and my grape shaved ice) and put her hand on my cheek and said ever so sweetly, "let's share that mom". I did give her one bite. Guess we know where she gets it from since I am pretty good at eating entire bags of Oreos and peanut M&M's (not in one sitting!).

The flag in the last photo was flown in the war in Afghanistan. If you look closely you can see the blood splatter on the upper right from a wounded American soldier.

Biter Biscuit Anyone

As you can see, he really enjoyed this. They need to make these things a little easier to clean up. Yuck! (And somebody comb this kid's hair!)

The Tree Hugger

Don't know what she's protesting, but I'm sure she'll be down in time for dinner.

Absorbing Scientific Knowledge

The Science Center was a good time. Another place I need to take the kids to more often. I have decided I watch way too much news that reports every single kidnapping and murder of every mother and pregnant lady resulting in me staying home and not enjoying all our great city has to offer. Carlie didn't care for the giant moving T-Rex they had in the Cretaceous Period display. She thought it was going to eat her. Both kids were once again very well behaved which I am quite thankful for. My new addiction is tangram puzzles. I could have sat at that station all day doing those. For those interested, I have conveniently added one to my amazon wish list (tee hee). Carlie kept saying she wanted to go back, so I am sure we will.

Fun with Grammy & Grandpa Dobbins & Buddy

We had a great visit with Grammy, Grandpa, Buddy, and the Cheet (chinchilla). We made sure to celebrate Grammy Dobbins birthday. Carlie helped to make and decorate the cake, hence the Pooh figures. And, she just loved saying "Happy Birthday Grammy" and led the singing of the birthday song. Then Carlie got to open some belated gifts from her aunts and uncles (although Doug technically isn't an uncle yet, (I guess I can say yet), it is sure nice of him to think of us.) And, for the record, it took much longer to extract these ponies from their boxes than it did for Carlie to open them. I'm sure some 6 year old kid in China is laughing the evil laugh every time he places those twisties knowing it will take so long to remove them all and the dreaded hair tape.

8 months old

A few photos of Noah from the photo shoot done by yours truly.



The brainwashing and Jedi mind tricks must start at a young age. He's just so anxious to go there, he is drooling (note drool string from mouth to floor- this is pretty much a constant)

Omaha Zoo

We capped off the week with a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo. It was a very nice zoo, and our zoo membership came in handy giving us 50% off admission. A lot of the animals are in indoor exhibits which was nice because you could get really close to them, and it helps you stay cool. They also had a very nice aquarium which was included in admission. I don't recall anything earth-shattering happening at the zoo.

On the way home from Omaha, we did manage to get a flat tire about 30 miles outside St. Louis on I-70. This was not fun. All the cars just whiz on by going 80mph. Do you think anyone stopped to help? No. We had to call a highway patrolman because the jack handle was stripped after a few turns, and we had to borrow his. Hopefully Ford will replace the handle with a better designed one. I didn't get any pictures of this because I was busy helping my Dad with the tire.


I love my floppy girly hat!!

This is the life. I sit here all day and pick my toe jam and eat it while people watch me. No lie, this gorilla was picking its toe jam and eating it as I took this picture. At least now I know where Mike gets it from (tee hee- that's a joke)
No zoo trip is complete without a ride on the carousel.

Boating 101

We also did some boating on the Missouri River which runs thru Omaha, in case you didn't know. It was Carlie's first time in the boat, and she really enjoyed it. Uncle Matt took her up and down the river a few times, then she and Grammy (and Pawpaw and Noah) went to the playground while the rest of us spent the day on the water. I won't gross you out with any photos of me in my suit.


Yes, that's Mike driving the boat. Good thing we were about the only boat on the water that day.
Trent on the Big Bertha.

That's me out there with Mike.

Debra in her "family" suit.

College World Series

We returned from Omaha on Saturday. We had a great time so I will post some of the highlights. The College World Series was lots of fun. Did you see me on ESPN? I was the screaming topless girl in the front row. Not really, but we were screaming in the front row of Fan Fest where they were filming pregame stuff. We had great seats thanks to some friends of Grammy and Pawpaw who work for Sonic and gave us their tickets. The best game was definitely Cal-Irvine's come from behind win over Arizona State.



Camera guy at Fan Fest since you never see them on tv.

Eater Nation celebrating their victory...

Presents for Good Behavior

Carlie gave several of her best behaved animals presents yesterday. You can see them in the background with their presents. They were all very excited to receive their just rewards. I am sure this is as a result of the chore/good behavior system in which she earns stickers for doing her chores and obeying. She loses stickers for various behaviors we won't mention. Right now she is working to earn 100 stickers for a Pooh Leap Pad game. It is quite amusing as everything she does now seems to warrant a sticker.

BUWAHAHAHAHAHA

Victory is Mine (well Pawpaw's). There are still a few more of these critters wreaking havoc underground, but we will catch them.

Noah Bunny

Carlie put these ears on Noah so I had to take a picture. It may come back to haunt him someday. Notice the two bottom teeth.

The Next American Idol

No, Caroline isn't standing on anything, she is just that much taller than Carlie.