Over the past few months.....

Well, since I have been awful about updating this blog, I thought I would post the condensed version of the recent events.

March:
After returning to Ohio for my Grandmother's funeral, we traveled to the greater Chicago area and visited Michigan City, Legoland Discovery Center, and the Jelly Belly facility.







April:
We visited the Children's Museum for the costumes exhibit (there were some cool old school costumes and props there) and the Dora the Explorer exhibit, played outside (when it was not raining), and celebrated Easter.





May:
AJT04 finished her first year of school and my Mom was able to come visit for several days (and to give me my annual perm). I think my Mom would say that bigger highlight for her was being able to go to the Early Learning Center and meet AJT04's teacher and see what AJT04 has done over the school year. Since Mommy had some curls from the perm, the girls decided to try curls as well; however, they decided that it was ALOT of work and only worth it for special occasions. We also attended Civil War Days at Conner Prairie where the girls learned about the very earliest text messaging (via Morse Code and telegraph wire). Last, but not least, we visited my parents where AJT07 decided to try to communicate with Buddy, the resident feline, and we happened to see the Goodyear blimp at the regional airport closest to our house (we also happened to see the DirecTV blimp there at the end of July).











June:
After school was done, we were rather busy with Vacation Bible School (both girls helped me by creating sample crafts and building the lighthouse), but we did make time for PBS Kids Let's Meet in the Park where we saw MANY characters but more importantly two brothers who are the girls' favorites -- Chris and Martin Kratt. While the girls had fun that day, the evening proved quite different when AJT07 fell in the shower and fractured her clavicle. So, right before VBS and our trip to Holiday World, I took AJT07 to the doctor for the x-rays and the sling. Fortunately, the sling did not slow her down at VBS or on our abbreviated trip.



The start of our trip was great when we met my parents and one uncle for a trip to Falls of the Ohio State Park where both girls were QUITE willing to walk around on the rocks looking for fossils or interesting features (even if it was a rather warm day). We then visited Angel Mounds and traveled along the Ohio River to Newburgh where we were able to watch a barge "lock through". After that we were able to spend a great day at Holiday World and then....we received the phone call that our basement was flooded, so back home we went.













July:
While working to clear out the debris from the basement, the girls and I visited my parents to celebrate AJT07's birthday, went to the church's Fish Fry (after making 6 pies and brownies), and managed to go to South Carolina for a few days where the girls met some cousins and visited the beach. (On our way down we did make a detour and visited Cowpens -- a REVOLUTIONARY WAR battlefield -- if there was more time, I'm sure I would have subjected the girls to many CIVIL WAR sites.) After a good time in South Carolina, on our way home, we stopped at that virtual shrine to fried chicken -- the original Sanders Cafe aka birthplace of KFC.

Fast Times at Lowes -- Building Race Cars, That Is....

Well, the end of February brought a surprise for the girls -- building, cars, and a visit with relatives all at the same time! Thanks to the great idea from my brother, we met my parents and brother at Lowe's in Richmond so the girls could build "something" as AJT07 keeps insisting that she wants to do. The best part of the visit was that the girls had no idea that we were meeting grandparents and an uncle, just that we were going to be building at Lowe's. Needless to say, the girls loved it -- in fact, AJT07 has said several times "I love my car". I just hope that when the girls turn 16, they do not decide to drive like they are driving race cars....

FEBRUARY

With February came more snow and ice and missed school days, but AJT04 and Mommy were thrilled to learn that the National Park Service was recreating Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural Journey and the second stop of the tour was none other than the Indiana State Museum. On Lincoln’s Birthday (yes we sang to “President Lincoln”) we were at the State Museum taking in the action. We heard his speech, saw soldiers, and even had a chance to talk to the “President” and have a picture taken with him (fortunately with a much faster camera than what would have been used 150 years ago). AJT04 enjoyed it, as did Mommy.


AJT07 was not quite as thrilled with seeing the “President” but unfortunately, before the visit, someone had decided that her bangs needed a trim and that she would go ahead and do it.


Then came Valentine’s Day with the girls resplendent in their jumpers. (Thanks to a friend at church, I had the bodice panels for the jumpers so add gingham for the skirts and voila!)


Time has been flying by and I hope that I will be able to update everyone a little sooner next time.

JANUARY

While there is usually a let down after Christmas, this year it worked out that AJT04 had a school concert so there was at least one really exciting event. The concert was originally scheduled for December but with the weather and illness wrecking havoc on the schedule, the concert was held in late January.


A little background – in Kindergarten, each class does a project rather than the worksheets many of us used; the project for AJT04’s class was music. So, the children learned about different instruments, saw instruments played, and even made their own instruments for the concert. This project was perfect for AJT04 and she has loved every minute of it.

HOLIDAY TIME

Per usual, holiday time was busy this year as well. First we went to Lights at the Zoo and to White River Gardens for the Scavenger Hunt, whereAJT07 met a new friend, a polar bear (fake, of course, but loved by her nonetheless).



A new addition this year was the Music, Arts, and Drama musical in which AJT04 acted/sang and Daddy acted. AJT04 was an angel as part of the musical along with several other kindergartners and first-graders. We knew that she loved music and her excitement as part of the musical only served to prove that.


With the snow came the chance to build a fort of some sort – the snow was not great packing snow, but with a little ingenuity, we developed a plan. The snow was about the consistency of wet sand so what better to use to build a fort than the sand castle toys – it worked and we built a pseudofort.


Then came Christmas Eve with church and opening at least some presents and waiting for the Big Guy in a Red Suit...



Lastly (actually after Christmas) came the annual trips to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (which someone shouts any time there is an advertisement) and the Indiana State Museum. At the Children’s Museum, one must slide...


And sock skate...


While at the State Museum, one should ride the replica L.S. Ayres train (there’s a name you do not hear much any more)...


And visit Santa’s cottage, even if he is not there.

It was busy, but we love the holiday season.

THANKSGIVING

Well, Thanksgiving was a busy time between celebrating AJT04’s sixth birthday (yes she is already that old, hard to believe) and having a family reunion at my parents’ house.


As you can see, AJT04’s maternal uncle was rather busy baking a decorating a ferocious dinosaur for AJT04’s birthday – needless to say, she and her sister are both fans of dinosaurs (I think Dinosaur Train has something to do with that), but a dinosaur cake is even better!


This picture is of something not often seen – four generations together. We keep reminding the girls that they are very lucky to have a Great-grandmother to know and love since many kids do not even have all of their grandparents. I can truly say that the girls do know and love their Great-grandmother, as does the rest of our family.

October (so far)....

Well, to bring you completely up-to-date, I need to add a little about October. Naturally, there will be the trick-or-treating at the end of the month, but this year we added "Brick or Treat" as well by heading up to Legoland Discovery Center near Chicago. AJT07 was somewhat scared with the Lego creatures (some were almost full size) but both girls were willing to wear their costumes to receive Lego brick keychains and to participate in the Halloween scavenger hunt in Miniland (basically the Chicago skyline Lego style). We also had the opportunity to build Sears Tower models which thrilled the girls especially since they saw the Sears Tower on the trip. I know that the Guy in the Big Red Suit is not usually seen at this time of year, but I guess you know where he resides in the fall.



We also made the annual trip to the Zoo for Zoo Boo. This year AJT07 has admitted that her favorite thing was the candy -- but seeing the animals definitely did not hurt. While AJT04 likes seeing some animals, I think that AJT07 loves seeing animals.


Stay tuned as our adventures continue this month and beyond!