Where Is Thumbkin?

LMG likes thumbs. She likes to hold my thumb when she's tired (going to sleep), crying, reading books, watching movies, relaxing, etc., (basically when she's close and snuggly). We even have a "thumb" game she and I will play, called "Find my thumb." This morning I asked her, "Whose thumb do you like? Daddy's, Mommy's, MEG's, or GVG's? Answer: "PawPaw's."

She does love PawPaw and PawPaw. How fitting it being PawPaw B's 70th birthday! In fact, the last time they were here and went to leave, she cried. And I don't mean just a few tears. She carried on for 20 minutes after they left. Finally gave her her paci to offer some pacification.

~Wee

Pictures, as Promised...

Here are pics of our summer activities....

Cartwheels
Volleyball

Trampoline
Pony rides
MEG's birthday at the ball park
Gardening
Nastia's signature balance beam move

Running (MEG)
Tubing
Diving (GVG)
(MEG)
High jumping (MEG)
Jumping with cousins

Bunt ball
Kayaking
Dodging tree limbs
Biking
Rope swinging
High diving
Golf Stilts

Phew, that took a long time to do!!! So, there you have it....

~Wee

93 years and counting...

Not many people have the opportunity to wish their 93 year old grandparent a Happy Birthday. We should all feel blessed to be able to do so. I had the chance to play "grandma" today. LMG was playing with her babies. I leaned over and said, "Give Mommy a kiss, please." She replied, "You not Mommy; me Mommy." "Oh, then give Grandma a kiss." I got my kiss. She's such a sweet little girl!More pictures will be coming shortly.

~Wee

Gutwein Olympiad

Our family has really enjoyed watching the Olympics this year. We will miss them. Last night we played our rendition of beach volleyball. Our version has grass, a requirement of shoes, and an invisible net. Sounds like round 2 is scheduled for tonight.

In the swimming department, the Olympics inspired the girls to work on their strokes, and those have really improved. Both can even do the butterfly. The only difference I observed is that their little bottoms come up out of the water more than those of the olympic athletes. The diving events were also a favorite. GVG said, "You can't dive with goggles." Just wondering how the athletes did it without getting much water into them.

MEG has been learning how to do cartwheels. She runs, does a little hop, and performs. Yesterday I attempted to show her how to do a roundoff and strained a muscle in the process. It's okay now. LMG's version of the cartwheel - she runs a little, puts her hands in the air, then gets down and crawls. Today in the school room LMG jumped from her port-a-potty onto the trampoline. Then she jumps with her arms spread out wide. We have all attempted to perform Nastia Luikin's signature move on the balance beam (the one where she balances on one leg with the other leg out to the back and her arms spread out). Daddy also took his turn, but due to the judge's keen eyesight, he was disqualified from the competition for hanging on to the counter.

Now on to track and field. MEG has brought home the gold with her long stride and fast pace. She might just give Usain Bolt a run for the medal! GVG received the silver for her great races and awesome participation, and LMG received the bronze for her smiles and enthusiasm.

I'll try to publish photos soon.

~Wee

Such excitement...

A few nights ago I arrived home late - after the girls were asleep. Our field trip group met to plan the monthly field trips for the upcoming school year. I am so excited by the variety of field trips and the selection of what we voted on. I was almost tempted to wake the girls just to share what is planned! But, I didn't -- waited till morning. GVG was first to arise. When MEG got up, GVG reminded me to tell MEG. The look on each of their faces when I read through the list was priceless. If you would have been a fly on the wall when Daddy returned from work, here is what you would have heard as the girls reported to Daddy.......

"We get to see where the Colts play...the locker room...the suites...the field...the retractable roof...maybe even Peyton Manning or Tony Dungy..." (now that'd be the icing on the cake!)
"We're going on a 60-minute real train ride..."
"We're going to the Planetarium...learn about the star of Bethlehem..."
"We're going to the news station and watch as they put on the news..."
"This is going to the best year!"

Daddy's responses were, "Oh, really; wish I could go; that will be neat..."

We had a fun night last night. We took the girls to see the American Girl Kit movie at the dollar theater. Kit was just as good as the other three movies are.

Gotta get back to cleaning. Have a good day.
~Wee

Welcome

Hello, welcome to our family's blog. I thought this would be a fun way to share what's going on in our lives.

Today was a work day, so I was gone most of the afternoon. Before leaving for work, I put pork chops and beans into the crock pot. I love coming home to the house smelling great and dinner all prepared. Just wish I'd be on the ball more often!

We are in week three of our 2008-09 school year. The girls have done great so far settling back into the school day routine. In fact, once we got our school room cleaned, arranged, and organized, MEG said, "I can't wait to start school!" At the end of last year every time MEG or GVG got up from their desk, LMG moved right in. So, this year we arranged for her to have her own desk. It took a few days of school before LMG realized that her sisters couldn't play "doggy," "house," etc., when she wanted them to. They were in "school." By now, LMG has adjusted to the routine. It's not to say we don't have interruptions throughout our day, because we do, but she's learning what is expected during school time. I have actually been amazed at what LMG can already do. We have a laminated tracing book and just last week, she traced the lines, etc. Today I pulled out the primary thinking skills book and she did some pages using the attribute and pattern blocks. It looks like I might need to schedule some one-on-one learning time with LMG as well.

Well, that's all for now...
~Wee