Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Got the Nerve?

Yeah, I got the Nerve!

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On May 21st I did the Got the Nerve Triathlon at Mt. Gretna, PA.  It was a beautiful course.  I can't say I enjoyed every minute of it, but it was a lot of fun.  The swim which is usually my strongest event was a little rough due to the cold and muddy water.  The bike ride however made up for it.  It was gorgeous!  The countryside out here is beautiful.  I was surprised to see the bike route come to an end so quickly since I was enjoying the scenery so much.  The run was equally beautiful, however I didn't mind the end when it came.
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It was a great experience and I was so happy to have my cheering section there to watch me.  There is nothing more motivating than hearing "Go, mommy!" From the sidelines.  I love my kiddos and I am so grateful to Mitch for being so supportive during the race and while I was training.  I know that he wished he was doing the race himself.  It was very gracious of him to let me do this race, (we decided it was easier on the kids if we didn't do the same races.) I can't wait to do it again.
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Lake Tobias

We went to Lake Tobias on a perfect rainy day.  What I mean by that is, yes, it rained, but it was still warm and we had a great time.  Lake Tobais is a wildlife park about 30 minutes from here.  It is such a great place.  The kids loved it. 

Their favorites were the petting zoos.

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Even though they weren't supposed to, the girls working the petting zoo let my boys hold a guinea pig.  As you can see they were thrilled.

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We all loved the new babies in the petting zoo.  They were so tiny and fun to hold.

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Of course there were the crazy looking alpacas.  Lily loved feeding them.  She loved feeding all the animals.

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The biggest hit was the Reptile house and show.  The boys are really into reptiles right now, so being able to touch a real crocodile and Burmese Python was a really big deal to the kids.


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One of the highlights at Lake Tobias is the safari tour.  They put you in these old school buses with the top cut off and drive you out to see more crazy animals, and I mean crazy!  They have Beefalo, (cow buffalo mix)  Aoudad Sheep, Buffalo, Eland, Elk, Emu, Fallow Deer, Llama, Red Deer, Rhea, Scottish Highland Cattle, Sika Deer, Texas Longhorn, Water Buffalo, Watusi, Whitetail Deer, Yak & Zedonk.  I would love to show you pictures of all the animals but that is a lot of pictures.  You will just have to go there yourself.

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How often do you actually get to pet an Elk?

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Don't judge, just laugh

Pay attention to the little tushy shake at the begining.

yeah, there is one more.

Remember how I said we were done with critters for awhile?
I guess I really don't get to decided those things.

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Mitch found a toad while mowing our lawn. Literally the day that I posted the previous critter post. This one was not nearly as creepy as the others. I actually think he was kind of cute. Asher named him "Toad" (my kids are so creative.) And Jackson named him "Jumpy"
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The kids loved having Jumpy as a pet for the day. He kept them entertained for hours. They were sad to let him go, but Jackson knew that he would be missing his family and he needed to be free to find food. We even told him he could keep Jumpy for a day, but he let him go because he knew it was the right thing. Such a good kid!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Lily and the Tramp

Lily LOVES to play on the trampoline.  She pleads "Ouside" all day long.  She could spend hours on the tramp.  She likes to jump, run, or just lie on her back.  She always gets crazy static hair after jumping as you can see below. 
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Chocolate bunny + Baby girl = BIG mess

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Stitches

We had a little accident last Saturday night.  Poor Asher!  We were on our way to a party that we look forward to every year.  I sent the boys to shower just before we left, and while in the shower, Asher slipped and hit his chin, splitting it wide open.  Poor kid was so sad to be missing Paramount, (a party at a local gymnastics center.)  Mitch and Asher spent the next few hours at the hospital, and left with 9 stitches.  Mitch took him to the hospital cafeteria after and let him get whatever he wanted.  He was happy as a clam.  In fact when we got home he told us that he had just as much fun as we did at Paramount because he got a pretzel.  I seriously love my sweet happy Asher.

look away now if  you have a weak stomach.


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I also wanted to mention how sweet Jackson was.  He was so worried about Asher, and said he wished that he was the one who needed stitches so that Asher could go to the party. Sweet, sweet boys.

Friday, May 13, 2011

A turtle, a snake and a mouse

I will start with the less creepy. I found a turtle just down the street from our house the other day. 

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What luck! Jackson loves turtles. We took a few pictures and then decided to move it down the ravine closer to water so it wouldn't get hit by a car, (when I found it, it was trying to cross the road.) 

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Did I mention it was a snapping turtle? And it wasn't too happy with all the attention.

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Mitch had the idea to put the turtle into this bin to carry it, which was a really good idea, because it snapped in the few seconds it took to pick it up and move it. And I mean snapped. Like I think it could take off a finger if it wanted to.

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Some of the neighbor kids came along with us. The turtle was very popular.

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Yep, we found a snapping turtle.  That should be just about enought excitement for one day.  But wait...it get worse.  Much worse.  Like I almost don't want to say, but I kind of have to.  It is a good story, and far be it from me not to tell a good story.  So here it is.

That same day, I came downstairs and Asher is sitting by the couch all bright eyed.  "There's a snake under the couch mom!"  He seems really excited about this.  And I just brush him off.  "No there's not I say."  and I thought nothing of it.  A little later I am talking to Mitch and as an after thought I told him that the boys think there is a snake under the couch.  He said they had told him too, but there was not snake under the couch and they should stop telling stories.  I went downstairs again, and Asher is in the same place with his hands under the couch, still all bright-eyed and excited.  "Mom, there is a snake under our couch and I felt it.  Did you know that snakes are not slimy they are scaly?"  Okay, I think I might believe him now.  At this point Mitch is also thinking that he had better look into this "story."  By the way, I hate snakes, hate them, hate them, hate them.  Mitch picks up the couch and tells me to look.  I am cowering on the stairs.  I don't want to look.  But I figured we needed to clear this thing up once and for all.  so I peer around the corner.  I see what looks like a strand of my yarn and I start to relax.  And then it moves!  I screamed.  And ran in the other room.  (Mitch figured out that scream means yes.)  Mitch then got a net and captured it and took it outside.  The boys were delighted.  They were so proud of what they found, and took it proudly to all of their friend to show off.  I was not quite as excited and even a little embarassed.  I later asked Asher how he knew there was a snake under the couch.  Here is how he tells it.  "I came inside, Lily was in her highchair and the snake was curled [coiled] up on the carpet in front of the couch.  I tryed to catch it but it went under the couch.  I kept trying to catch it but it got away."  To think we almost didn't listen to him!  I could have been watching TV that night and suddenly had a rude awakening at me feet.  I now ALWAYS have my feet up when on the couch.
And then there is more.  Things have to come in threes right?

We also had a mouse!  This one is so embarrassing because it was my friend who found it.  The very next morning, my friend was over and asked where she could throw out her little guys dirty diaper.  I told her we keep a garbage just out the door to our garage.  She steps out, and then quickly stepped back in to tell me, there was an alive mouse in the garbage.  I was horrified!  I was also so happy that Mitch was home to take care of it.  Of course, again the boys thought it was so cool.

So that's it.   We are done.  No more creatures.  I think we have had enough.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

I remember it well...

12 years ago today I married my Prince.
It was a magical day.  All of our friends and family showed up to celebrate with us.
Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace
The cake was beatiful
The Royal Wedding Cake
I loved my dress.
And most importantly. I married the man of my dreams.
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Okay, so here are pics from the real day.
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