Eclecticity

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Cake Anyone?

S did this cake a while back for a friend of mine's baby shower. Awesome, isn't it? The boys got talent!

Why not to take a 3 yr old bra shopping

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Droids

This was just too funny not to share.

If you really know me, you'll understand...

Friday, August 05, 2011

Drum Major

Just wanted to share this photo of D at FJM Drum Major Camp with his marching band instructor, Mr. Z & his co-drum majors.

I am really, really proud of him! He wasn't suppose to get drum major. In fact, his director told the instructors NOT to help him during try outs cuz he was too afraid to lose a trumpet player. He got it in spite of that. To quote one of the judges, he "pooped gold" at the try outs!

It's gonna be an awesome marching season!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

What Drowning Looks Like

This is important information to have this summer. Check the full article here.

Drowning doesn't look like flailing arms and legs and shouts for help. In fact, most people wouldn't even notice it was happening. Here are the true signs someone is in trouble in the water:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level
Head tilted back with open mouth
Hair over forehead or eyes
Eyes glassy, empty and unable to focus
Eyes closed
Hyperventilating or gasping
Not using legs
Body is vertical and upright
Trying to swim in a certain direction but not making progress
Trying to roll over on the back

I've always been afraid of drowning, or worse, one of my children drowning. Hopefully, this information will help someone out there!

Airsoft

For the boys, this is the summer of airsoft!

The whole gang

The "Action" shots.

I think all but one are posed for. Can you guess which one?

Doesn't this look like some crazy Charle's Angels pix?

The Puppet Show

Cora entertained me with a puppet show at the library.

N was a little too shy to participate

Cool Riders

If only the video of this was working...

D & S rocking out at Red, White, & Boom

S & Little C playing it cool with their cousin at Red, White, & Boom

Total Awesomeness!

July 4th

This is my favorite pix of the day
Taken by S

I was holding off on this post till I could show the pix I got of Daniel in the Independence Day parade, but the camera is MIA and I fear it is going to stay that way. Instead, I'll show you the pix of the Vietnam Moving Wall that was visiting W'ville at the time and the flag we sponsored in honor of our dads (Chris' and mine) military service.

Little C among the flags

The Columbus Zoo

Some highlights of our trip to the Columbus Zoo

Little C, some random kid, & a giant koala

My tree huggin' son

S & his "special" friend

The boys!

Little C & a giant lizard

N, Little C, & Big C playing an African drum

Dr. B

Dr. Beddoes...

Please report to surgery

Restless Summer

Front walkway taken by N

It has been a restless summer this year. I was so looking forward to the season, the first in our new house, but I feel as if most of it has been wasted. Knowing this isn't entirely true, I still can't help feeling like everything I've done isn't unique to the season. For example, we have made great strides in education with the girls. Cora finished her first chapter book a few weeks ago and is almost done with a second; however, we could've accomplished this just about any time of year.

For me, summer usually means:

Camping at least once
Road trips
Pools
Long evening walks
Sleeping in
Gardening
Yard work

View of front yard tree from my new comfy spot

While I have done my fair share, and probably yours too, of sleeping in this summer, almost all the other stuff has been absent.

I have substituted long evening walks with reading on my new front porch (where my hubby arranged a simple, but nice little area for us to chill out together) and that has been fantastic.

We haven't gone camping and won't have any time to fit it in. This is disappointing since Chris' disabled veteran status enables us to camp for free at any Ohio state campgrounds.

We are planning a quick road trip next week, but it is so short it hardly counts in my book!

This is as close to a pool as we have gotten this summer

We have yet to even see a pool this summer :(

I planted tomatoes, but that is about all I have done. I guess I should cut myself a break on this one, being the first year in the new house, I have just barely decided where to put it next year.

Yard work. UGH! I have neither the time or the resources to do what I want to the place. I did finally complete a small project in the back yard last night, but hardly enough to satisfy me. I think I'll have to give this one up till next summer too.

The girls have less then a month before school starts and then D heads off to band camp. Hopefully I can make the best of the rest of this summer.

Feel free to leave me some low cost suggestions to yard maintenance, summer fun,

or other ideas that may come to your head.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Help Support Cornerstone Academy

This is the school some of my children attend and where Chris is currently serving as vice president of the school board. Last year, they received an EXCELLENT rating, which is the highest possible ranking!

As parents, my wife and I have been very pleased with the progress our children have made there. Our oldest daughter entered the school in the 3rd grade, but could hardly read at a 1st grade level. By the end of that year, the excellent staff had her reading at grade level! They also took the initiative to uncover the learning disabilities we were unaware she had and they have ensured she has the help she needs ever since.

Please help support our school by voting for Cornerstone Academy Community in the Kohl's Cares campaign. As a newer charter school, it can be difficult to get the funding for your students. After seeing the difference in our lives so far, I can only imagine what they can do with more funding.

Thank you for your support!!