Sunday, October 19, 2008
A note on appearances
Just a note--I know it seems like we do a lot of stuff. And we do. A LOT. But the beauty of our flexibility is that we also have days and days of nothing/whatever we want. I don't blog about those as much, because, well, it is what it is and we're usually enjoying our family days at home. :)
Sick of being behind on blogging
I have so many fun pictures to post, but I'll recap with snippets of fun things we've been doing these past several weeks--now you can see why I don't get to the computer daily and sometimes don't get to blogging for a week or so. I don't mind, though. We're having a lot of fun. Here's a list of some of the fun things we've been doing:
1. Eating out with good friends
We've discovered that we share a serious love of food, so every so often, we cook for each other and try different restaurants. Somehow we seem to wrap up our evenings at Friendly's even if we've had dessert someplace else. It's crazy, but fun. And we all enjoy one another a lot.
2. We've sponsored a blood drive.
3. I've been volunteering to register people to vote (non-partisan; I've helped people register for either party) with my friend Christy. The kids have helped out, too. And we've visited the local campaign office, too. For fun. And for pins.
4. We attended a neat concert as a family.
Okay, that's as much of a brief recap as I can do since the next outing is so cool, it deserves a post of its own.
We've discovered that we share a serious love of food, so every so often, we cook for each other and try different restaurants. Somehow we seem to wrap up our evenings at Friendly's even if we've had dessert someplace else. It's crazy, but fun. And we all enjoy one another a lot.2. We've sponsored a blood drive.
3. I've been volunteering to register people to vote (non-partisan; I've helped people register for either party) with my friend Christy. The kids have helped out, too. And we've visited the local campaign office, too. For fun. And for pins.
4. We attended a neat concert as a family.
Okay, that's as much of a brief recap as I can do since the next outing is so cool, it deserves a post of its own.
Speaking of Great Quotes
Thanks to Axel for this one:
Way to go, Axel. I love that quote. I, too, feel this way about being married to my best friend and raising our family together. :) Thanks for sharing.
You know something is from God when it starts good and gets better.
Way to go, Axel. I love that quote. I, too, feel this way about being married to my best friend and raising our family together. :) Thanks for sharing.
TV Theme Show Quizzes!
Okay, I want comments from everyone, but specifically my mom, my father-in-law, and my brother-in-law David. 10 questions on each quiz. How'd you score? Thanks to madhousewife for this one!
TV THEME SONG QUIZ
TV GAME SHOW QUIZ
We got a 9 out of 10 on the first one and a 10 out of 10 on the second one.
The trip down memory lane is worth whatever score you get anyway.
TV GAME SHOW QUIZ
We got a 9 out of 10 on the first one and a 10 out of 10 on the second one.
The trip down memory lane is worth whatever score you get anyway.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A Sincere Question
Well, as we've seen in previous posts, it seems just about any topic can get controversial! But convention dictates that religion and politics are the most volatile of subjects in which to engage with your friends.
I got to thinking the other day and though I know that on the surface, it seems I'm mixing politics and religion with this question, I promise that I'm not trying to be controversial. I just think it makes for an interesting discussion. The only rule is please don't argue it from any specific religion's viewpoint, just Biblical. And you may suggest third parties as an answer. The question?
Have fun! :)
I got to thinking the other day and though I know that on the surface, it seems I'm mixing politics and religion with this question, I promise that I'm not trying to be controversial. I just think it makes for an interesting discussion. The only rule is please don't argue it from any specific religion's viewpoint, just Biblical. And you may suggest third parties as an answer. The question?
Was Jesus a Democrat or Republican?
Have fun! :)
Palin as President
I love sites like this--hover with your mouse, click on stuff, etc. They're adding something new every day until election day. My favorites are:
* The Globe (click several times on everything--sometimes different things happen)
* The Red Phone
* The 2nd Window
I'm able to laugh but it's also kind of sad. Mostly, I'm glad it's not looking likely that they'll win. Heaven help us all indeed. Anyway, whatever your political views, enjoy the site!
Tina Fey is certainly making the campaigning and election more bearable, eh? H/T to Julia for this site. Thanks!
* The Globe (click several times on everything--sometimes different things happen)
* The Red Phone
* The 2nd Window
I'm able to laugh but it's also kind of sad. Mostly, I'm glad it's not looking likely that they'll win. Heaven help us all indeed. Anyway, whatever your political views, enjoy the site!
Tina Fey is certainly making the campaigning and election more bearable, eh? H/T to Julia for this site. Thanks!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Now You've Got Me Going
There are a few things about presidential campaigns that bug me in general. They are too long. Do we really need to hear from people for nearly 2 years? Candidates tend to share the same ideas over and over again, and it's no wonder since 2 years is too long to campaign. Both sides use half-truths to distort reality. Much of the general public takes what the candidates at face value, and when they investigate, they tend to use news sources that support their ideology thus perpetuating the half-truths. The list goes on and on.
This year the word "socialist" has been brought up a lot, and I can see why. Some of Obama's policies on the surface seem to lean to a socialist ideal--create an egalitarian society by "redistributing wealth." I'm not sure that's a fair label, though. As for his tax policies, Obama is not raising taxes on the wealthy--he is eliminating tax cuts given to the wealthy and reducing the tax burden on the majority of society. And these tax cuts occurred because the money was flowing, but now that the flow has dried up a bit it's time to stop. We need to find the money somewhere and this is a fair first step in my opinion. I see this as establishing a fair taxation policy. If a department store sells a product at a discount because business is great and then faces a dip in profits, they will likely restore the price of that product to the original one. It makes sense. Obama has said time and time again his policies will reduce the tax burden on 95% of America and also 95% of small businesses. This just seems more fair to me.
And while we're on the topic of capitalism v. socialism. Capitalism is fundamentally based on greed. Call it what you want, but ultimately capitalists will reward those who find the best and most ingenious ways to create wealth for themselves. As has been evidenced by so many problems over the past few years, most large corporations are looking to be profitable from the top down, even if it places its workers in harm's way. This is capitalism at its core, and it doesn't work for long. This type of business model is bound to experience ups and downs, but now that the down is a big one the capitalists are looking for government assistance. Doesn't this go contrary to true capitalism? Why should the government have to assist private corporations who through their own gambles have royally screwed up?
Don't get me wrong, I understand to a small degree the ramifications of allowing some of these financial giants to flounder, but I find it ironic that those who made out quite well during the "good years" can't find a way to make it through the "lean years" without a handout. It is also interesting to me to see how big bad capitalist corporations continue to lean on and expect government assistance to remain profitable. That's not pure capitalism as I understand it.
Let's face it, our society as a whole is to blame. Our president in 2001 told us the best way to fight terrorism was to shop. Capitalism at its core, but one of the stupidest financial plans I've heard in my lifetime. We spent our way into personal financial difficulties while padding the coffers of the wealthiest Americans. We convinced ourselves that home ownership is the key to financial success, whatever its costs. We can see that there are a lot of people who had no business owning a home. They didn't have the resources to truly own and maintain a home without suffering in other areas.
Honestly I'm one who believes the government isn't obligated to provide everything to everyone. As I sit here I'm composing a "my beefs with health care" post in my head. In a perfect world capitalism would succeed, always with an eye toward being sure the masses that support it are cared for. CEOs would make a little less to ensure their employees could continue to be profitable. Japan has operated that way for many years and when I was there I saw very little poverty. And people lived well, too. When a company lost money, the CEO did not take a bonus. It would have been irresponsible to lay off employees while collecting large compensation packages.
There is no quick fix for our economy, but capitalists should take a look at the socialist principles some of our largest companies are beginning to espouse now that free markets haven't treated them so well. Even capitalists have agreed to live in a society of rules. The fact of the matter is we all have a responsibility to care for that society or none of us will succeed.
Let me throw out a couple of teasers to get your motors running: universal health care and the value added tax. Enjoy!
This year the word "socialist" has been brought up a lot, and I can see why. Some of Obama's policies on the surface seem to lean to a socialist ideal--create an egalitarian society by "redistributing wealth." I'm not sure that's a fair label, though. As for his tax policies, Obama is not raising taxes on the wealthy--he is eliminating tax cuts given to the wealthy and reducing the tax burden on the majority of society. And these tax cuts occurred because the money was flowing, but now that the flow has dried up a bit it's time to stop. We need to find the money somewhere and this is a fair first step in my opinion. I see this as establishing a fair taxation policy. If a department store sells a product at a discount because business is great and then faces a dip in profits, they will likely restore the price of that product to the original one. It makes sense. Obama has said time and time again his policies will reduce the tax burden on 95% of America and also 95% of small businesses. This just seems more fair to me.
And while we're on the topic of capitalism v. socialism. Capitalism is fundamentally based on greed. Call it what you want, but ultimately capitalists will reward those who find the best and most ingenious ways to create wealth for themselves. As has been evidenced by so many problems over the past few years, most large corporations are looking to be profitable from the top down, even if it places its workers in harm's way. This is capitalism at its core, and it doesn't work for long. This type of business model is bound to experience ups and downs, but now that the down is a big one the capitalists are looking for government assistance. Doesn't this go contrary to true capitalism? Why should the government have to assist private corporations who through their own gambles have royally screwed up?
Don't get me wrong, I understand to a small degree the ramifications of allowing some of these financial giants to flounder, but I find it ironic that those who made out quite well during the "good years" can't find a way to make it through the "lean years" without a handout. It is also interesting to me to see how big bad capitalist corporations continue to lean on and expect government assistance to remain profitable. That's not pure capitalism as I understand it.
Let's face it, our society as a whole is to blame. Our president in 2001 told us the best way to fight terrorism was to shop. Capitalism at its core, but one of the stupidest financial plans I've heard in my lifetime. We spent our way into personal financial difficulties while padding the coffers of the wealthiest Americans. We convinced ourselves that home ownership is the key to financial success, whatever its costs. We can see that there are a lot of people who had no business owning a home. They didn't have the resources to truly own and maintain a home without suffering in other areas.
Honestly I'm one who believes the government isn't obligated to provide everything to everyone. As I sit here I'm composing a "my beefs with health care" post in my head. In a perfect world capitalism would succeed, always with an eye toward being sure the masses that support it are cared for. CEOs would make a little less to ensure their employees could continue to be profitable. Japan has operated that way for many years and when I was there I saw very little poverty. And people lived well, too. When a company lost money, the CEO did not take a bonus. It would have been irresponsible to lay off employees while collecting large compensation packages.
There is no quick fix for our economy, but capitalists should take a look at the socialist principles some of our largest companies are beginning to espouse now that free markets haven't treated them so well. Even capitalists have agreed to live in a society of rules. The fact of the matter is we all have a responsibility to care for that society or none of us will succeed.
Let me throw out a couple of teasers to get your motors running: universal health care and the value added tax. Enjoy!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
In Honor of the Upcoming Election . . .
I just found these and more at http://carryabigsticker.com/
(Sorry, haven't found any that mention Joe the Plumber).
~Free Shipping~
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Day on the Farm, the Park, the Wildlife Preserve, and the Park again
THE FARM
Our homeschool Knitting Group met at the farm for our first class--we learned to finger knit. That was awesome and the kids have been doing it A LOT since then. Knitting with the needles was much trickier:
learning to knit
Comparing how long the scarves are . . . and then playing some wild game with them
Our pig! The kids, though they were told repeatedly NOT to name the pig, named the pig. Flower. I think "lunch" or "pork chop" might be more like it. But then again, I grew up on a small farm . . .
Checking out the pig pen
Playing with the chickens
Playing with friends
Goofy faces
Talking politics (so fun) . . . isn't the scenery gorgeous?THE PARK
A couple of days later, we decided to play at the park, because the weather was gorgeous and because, well, why not.
THE WILDLIFE PRESERVE
Our group meets at least weekly and we do a variety of things. Every year we brainstorm our classes and outings (the kids are on the field trip committee) and we do whatever strikes our fancy based on our kids' interests and what we're learning. This year we're doing Physics, Group Games, Classes at the local Wildlife Preserve, field trips, and service projects.
The classes at the Wildlife Preserve are fantastic--they do creek studies (where you climb IN the creek and study the water and bugs) and field studies and all sorts of things. This class was all about Mammals. The lecture taught by the park ranger (here is where you have a potential con to homeschooling--kids getting ONLY their parents as teachers--we have the attitude that if there's a "con," we actively work to make it a "pro." We think it's important for our kids to learn from many mentors including, but not exclusively, us and we're fine with (and encourage) them learning rules and discipline from others--it's healthy and good. So, we seek out classes and opportunities for this--everyone in our group pitches in with this by teaching and mentoring and we also sign up for many classes in the community and area) was informative, fun, and interactive. He then showed a short video and then lead us on a hike to several different kinds of habitats and asked the kids all kinds of questions and had them touch all kinds of skeltons and fur and other animal "stuff."
M loves Bald Eagles! There are 2 real ones at the preserve.
The lecture and video
Answering questions about Mammal characteristics
Getting ready for our hike to visit different habitats
Habitat: Field
Habitat: Swamp/Water
Feeling animal furs
Habitat: Forest
More animal skinsTHE PARK AGAIN
Remember how we got rained out of our Olympic Field Day? Well, we rescheduled to do it after our class the Wildlife Preserve. So, everyone ate lunch together at the park and then the games began--Various Relays and Shotput and Javelin and Beach Volleyball . . .
Gorgeous park!
Explanation of Benefits
Okay, so for all of you who are confused about the blog award . . . here is your explanation of benefits:
Again, the winners of this award are:
Shawn and Rebecca
Lena
D'Arcy
Axel and Terah
Kara
Emily L.
Jared and Rachelle
Happy Wife Happy Life
Sierra
Toni
And my sisters-in-law:
Jenny
Emily
Jessica
Lindsay
And my cousins-in-law:
April
Jill
Stacy
Kim
1. What is a blog award?
It is something you can proudly display on your own blog and bestow on others, too, if you so choose.
2. Why did I get this award?
Because Boquinha thinks you're cool.
3. What does it mean to get a blog award?
It means you win an honor for something. Many blog awards celebrate friendship or being a great blogger or making people laugh or blessing the world with goodness. The blog award basically means one blogger says to another, "I think you're pretty neat, so here's an award. Post it proudly."
4. What does this particular award mean?
Who knows? That's what's funny. This particular blog award must've started out in Spanish--likely one Spanish-speaking blogger made it and gave it to others and it got sent around the net. I suspect that once it was bestowed on someone who didn't speak Spanish, that person wanted to know what it said and so they put the text in Babelfish.com to get a direct translation. Babelfish will directly translate the text but it will not always make sense since it's not a general translation. It is word for word which is why what comes out of it is sometimes, as in the case of this award, so humorous. So, instead of this being about making people smile or being funny . . . it's about propagating the bows of friendship and proximity. Get it? Yeah, neither does anyone else. One of the reasons I love this award.
5. What do I do with it?
If you feel so inclined, you post it on your blog in a post, on the sidebar, both, whatever, to show off that you've won it! And that someone thinks you deserve an award of proximity and to show the marvel of friendship with bows that are propagated. :P And if you're really feeling the love (or in this case the proximity), pass it on and propagate the fun.
Again, the winners of this award are:
Shawn and Rebecca
Lena
D'Arcy
Axel and Terah
Kara
Emily L.
Jared and Rachelle
Happy Wife Happy Life
Sierra
Toni
And my sisters-in-law:
Jenny
Emily
Jessica
Lindsay
And my cousins-in-law:
April
Jill
Stacy
Kim
1. What is a blog award?
It is something you can proudly display on your own blog and bestow on others, too, if you so choose.
2. Why did I get this award?
Because Boquinha thinks you're cool.
3. What does it mean to get a blog award?
It means you win an honor for something. Many blog awards celebrate friendship or being a great blogger or making people laugh or blessing the world with goodness. The blog award basically means one blogger says to another, "I think you're pretty neat, so here's an award. Post it proudly."
4. What does this particular award mean?
Who knows? That's what's funny. This particular blog award must've started out in Spanish--likely one Spanish-speaking blogger made it and gave it to others and it got sent around the net. I suspect that once it was bestowed on someone who didn't speak Spanish, that person wanted to know what it said and so they put the text in Babelfish.com to get a direct translation. Babelfish will directly translate the text but it will not always make sense since it's not a general translation. It is word for word which is why what comes out of it is sometimes, as in the case of this award, so humorous. So, instead of this being about making people smile or being funny . . . it's about propagating the bows of friendship and proximity. Get it? Yeah, neither does anyone else. One of the reasons I love this award.
5. What do I do with it?
If you feel so inclined, you post it on your blog in a post, on the sidebar, both, whatever, to show off that you've won it! And that someone thinks you deserve an award of proximity and to show the marvel of friendship with bows that are propagated. :P And if you're really feeling the love (or in this case the proximity), pass it on and propagate the fun.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
I got an award!
It's a major award! I am SO SO SO SO SO honored to receive this award. Touched and honored and flattered. Wow. You can find my acceptance speech here. It's one of the funniest threads and comments I've read in a while. And yet, that is the norm at bythelbs' blog. And I love it.
I'm just going to copy her format, because it screams of awesomeness. And because she's just so darn cool. And because I love the friends I know through blogging. And because she has now sent me TWO, count 'em, TWO packages in the mail. One time she sent me movies just because I was looking for some good ones. And then I won a consolation prize for her Office giveaway. She's awesome. Have I mentioned her awesomeness yet? She's awesome.
And because of the power bequeathed to me by this glorious award, I also hereby extend this award to my sisters-in-law and cousins-in-law . . . Jenny, Emily, Jessica, Lindsay, April, Jill, Stacy, and Kim! :) (Feeling to lazy too link to their blogs, but they know who they are).
I'm just going to copy her format, because it screams of awesomeness. And because she's just so darn cool. And because I love the friends I know through blogging. And because she has now sent me TWO, count 'em, TWO packages in the mail. One time she sent me movies just because I was looking for some good ones. And then I won a consolation prize for her Office giveaway. She's awesome. Have I mentioned her awesomeness yet? She's awesome.
An award! From lbs! Behold the oddness!
This blog invests and believes, the proximity. [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy]. They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate? Then let’s try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.
And if that's not the coolest Babelfish translation ever, I don't know what is. And that's just another reason I love this award.
I, too, do not wish to cut the bows of proximity to do friendship to show the marvels and that are propogated so I am extending this award to:
Shawn and Rebecca, Lena, D'Arcy, Axel and Terah, Kara, Emily L., Jared and Rachelle, Happy Wife Happy Life, Sierra, Toni
And because of the power bequeathed to me by this glorious award, I also hereby extend this award to my sisters-in-law and cousins-in-law . . . Jenny, Emily, Jessica, Lindsay, April, Jill, Stacy, and Kim! :) (Feeling to lazy too link to their blogs, but they know who they are).
I'm going to go ahead and copy (quote) lbs again here (imitation is the highest form of flattery, so she should be quite flattered by now--plus she's so awesome):
And, my friends, please do not in any way feel obligated to continue the chain. I promise not to come to your blog and check to see if you have posted about it or anything. Well, I suppose since I read all of your blogs I will know if you have posted about it, but I will be in no way offended should you choose to revel in the glory of this award privately.
And rather than doing the 7 random things meme, I will simply refer you to her post yet again because it is, in case you missed it the first time, SO DANG FUNNY. And awesome.
22 Times
I was wondering and now I know. It was VERY annoying.
How many times did John McCain use the words "My Friend" in the debates?
How many times did John McCain use the words "My Friend" in the debates?
The world of online communication
My screen sometimes looks like this. It's insane, I know.
But I have to say. I much prefer this to the phone. I'm not much of a phone person
(I mean, don't get me wrong--this girl can TALK!).
I like email and instant messaging better.
And truth be told, my screen rarely looks like this, because if it did, I wouldn't get much done. This day was wild. So we took a screenshot. You know, to write a blog post.
Kid Interviews
On 9/30/08 for our morning homeschool starter, we did a little spotlight devotional about the kids. I dressed up as a newspaper reporter with the word "PRESS" on my hat. I told them they'd just become famous and I wanted to do an interview. They were to answer as themselves for the purpose of the interview. Here are their answers--they started by giving me their full names:
Thing 2 (5 years old)
How many people are in your family? Four.
What is your favorite color? Gray.
What is your favorite thing to eat? Pizza.
What do you dislike eating? Octopus.
If you had $100, what would you spend it on? Everything that I've always wanted.
What scares you the most? Shadows and Big Dogs.
What things make you laugh? Potty Talk!
Name something that makes you feel sad. I don't know.
If you could have any wish come true, what would it be? To have a real magic wand.
What can you do really well? Races, Biking on 2-wheelers, skateboarding, petting cute doggies .
What is the best thing about how you look? I don't really think about how I look; I think about playing.
What do you want to do when you grow up? Owner of a Donut Shop.
What great thing did you do to become so famous? I have the best donuts.
Thing 1 (8 years old)
How many people are in your family? Four.
What is your favorite color? Yellow.
What is your favorite thing to eat? Sushi.
What do you dislike eating? Peanuts.
If you had $100, what would you spend it on? A toy car you can ride and books in a series.
What scares you the most? Big dogs in our backyard.
What things make you laugh? Maxim!
Name something that makes you feel sad. When Vavo died.
If you could have any wish come true, what would it be? Two things: 1.To have wings
2. To bring back your Vavo and Vavo and my Vavo
What can you do really well? Ride my bike, ice skate, read, cooking, writing
What is the best thing about how you look? My hair.
What do you want to do when you grow up? Owner/Cook of a restaurant and an author.
What great thing did you do to become so famous? I wrote a lot of good books.
They were very quick with the answers to what makes you laugh and what do you like best about yourself and I think that's great!
Notes to self: Quit making octopus in peanut sauce and build the fence around our backyard!!
A Day at the Gardens
So, every year, these beautiful Hershey Gardens have a community day--the gardens are free and open to everyone and they have botanical and gardening and animal booths. It's all quite lovely.
Well, a year ago, we met our good friends, the Ratcliffes there. Since then, we've enjoyed a beautiful friendship with them.
They live just down the street from us and our kids are very good friends and our families enjoy each other very much. We love to hang out in each other's backyards and at each other's houses. We love to play together and we love to have Guitar Hero parties at their house. We're in the same homeschool group (they have 7 children--2 are adults/college grads and the younger 5 range from 16 to 9) and we have so much fun at activities and field trips together!
They are dear, loving, supportive friends and we're very grateful for them. So, anyway, because of having met at the gardens, we call it our "Friendship Anniversary." So, we met them there again this year and had a great time as usual.
We got there first and enjoyed walking around the gorgeous gardens. It was a record-setting HOT day. Sweltering. But so fun.
In the children's garden, there are all kinds of magical things to do. There are Hershey Kisses that occasionally squirt out water and steam. It's always a surprise to guess when and which one and wait for it!
And from the Children's Garden, you enter the Butterfly House. Gorgeous! You literally walk around while butterflies land on you and fly all around you--LOADS of them. It's so fun. Mark got some really great pictures of them.
More from the Children's Garden . . . you can play with the sundial, see the ABC garden, play in the secret garden patterned after The Wind in the Willows garden (we really think Grandma would love this entire place--it's on the humongous list of places to visit when they visit--we're near so much great stuff!), make music, play on the ship, climb trees, sit at little tables, walk on the chocolate bar sidewalk, and more:
One of my favorite gardens is the Japanese Garden--very peaceful, very Zen:
Then we met up with our dear friends and took some neat pictures with them:
Happy Friendship Day!
Well, a year ago, we met our good friends, the Ratcliffes there. Since then, we've enjoyed a beautiful friendship with them.
They live just down the street from us and our kids are very good friends and our families enjoy each other very much. We love to hang out in each other's backyards and at each other's houses. We love to play together and we love to have Guitar Hero parties at their house. We're in the same homeschool group (they have 7 children--2 are adults/college grads and the younger 5 range from 16 to 9) and we have so much fun at activities and field trips together!
They are dear, loving, supportive friends and we're very grateful for them. So, anyway, because of having met at the gardens, we call it our "Friendship Anniversary." So, we met them there again this year and had a great time as usual.
We got there first and enjoyed walking around the gorgeous gardens. It was a record-setting HOT day. Sweltering. But so fun.
In the children's garden, there are all kinds of magical things to do. There are Hershey Kisses that occasionally squirt out water and steam. It's always a surprise to guess when and which one and wait for it!
And from the Children's Garden, you enter the Butterfly House. Gorgeous! You literally walk around while butterflies land on you and fly all around you--LOADS of them. It's so fun. Mark got some really great pictures of them.
More from the Children's Garden . . . you can play with the sundial, see the ABC garden, play in the secret garden patterned after The Wind in the Willows garden (we really think Grandma would love this entire place--it's on the humongous list of places to visit when they visit--we're near so much great stuff!), make music, play on the ship, climb trees, sit at little tables, walk on the chocolate bar sidewalk, and more:
One of my favorite gardens is the Japanese Garden--very peaceful, very Zen:
Then we met up with our dear friends and took some neat pictures with them:
Happy Friendship Day!Soon after that, more friends met up with us. We'd just missed the Goodens (but were meeting them for dinner and games afterward anyway) and some others from our homeschool group, we met up with the Salefskis and that was fun, and then we found Peggy's family (Carl was playing violin with his Suzuki group during one of the community musical performances).
So much fun to play with friends! We love our community and we love our family and friends.
So much fun to play with friends! We love our community and we love our family and friends.
Post Gardens
After a beautiful day at the Gardens, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at our friends' house with some REALLY FUN Settlers of Catan games!! We LOVE Settlers . . . and we're finding more and more people who play this game and Ticket to Ride and love it, too. SO MUCH FUN!
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