Olentangy Trail Walk

We live nearby a trail that runs along the Olentangy River- so what better way to spend some family time then walking it. And I mean walking!

Recently, I was told that I need to adjust my diet and start exercising more often. Why? Besides the obvious? I was informed that my blood sugar and insulin levels are elevated and that at the rate I am going, and family history, I would be diabetic in less than two years. HUGE wake-up call.

So we set out.

After a few quick pictures we began out walk...

Olentangy River Dam.

Really. Don't you see it? LOL

Not exactly what I think of when I think of a dam!

And we're off...

We walked...

And walked some more. But then I wanted to take a breather at this part of the river...or maybe this is a lake. Whatever. I was getting tired regardless!

So we walked more

We were all covered in sweat by the time we got home. It was like 85* and we walked about 5 miles. Isa walked a good quarter mile of that!

When we got home, the real journey began.

The Bath.

Fork... or is it?

When Carly was a wee-tot she often told people that her daddy drives a big blue f**k. Abby said s**t pretty frequently, instead of other common words. Isabella now calls a fork, f**k.
Gotta love the vocabulary of toddlers and there misuse of pronunciation. It's cute. You've got to admit it! LOL!!!

Blanket Fort

Yeah, so mom has had a really lazy day. Really lazy. The kids decided to make a blanket fort because I wouldn't take them anywhere or go outside :( Booo on me!

This time they used Abby's bed, Isa's bed, the high chair (that should have gone to Once Upon A Child by now), the dresser and toy crates.
It didn't last to long. But what time they did play in it, they had fun playing house.

Oh yeah, and they used the computer desk chair too

Now they are playing "Boggle" with daddy... so much for the fun blanket fort.

Abby's 9th Birthday

For Abby's 9th birthday, we decided to spend it at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with Gruncle Henry and Peggy. The weather was predicted to rain with thunderstorms, but luckily we only encountered all of about 10 minutes of rain total. Overall a great day to go. The animals were awake and about, and the crowds were pretty minimal.

Isa did a wonderful job staying with us, or holding hands with someone, at all times. She sure got a work out! Abby had a great time being a big sister... but more importantly, being spoiled with Gruncle's time and love :) Carly enjoyed the time out (and the time at the mall with her friend that night- but that is a whole other blog!).

We saw just about every animal there was to see and even hit up a few rides. We spent a lot of time feeding the Lorikeets. For a few dollars you can get a cup of nectar to feed them. Unfortunately they were also doing some of their own feeding (on fruits), so we didn't get the same attention as I had the week prior. But fun regardless! Abby was a little apprehensive about the whole idea. I don't blame her. See, as she sat trying to gain the attention of a few, one decided to take her nectar hostage. Literally. This bird would 'attack' anyone that came near the cup. Tom warned me, but I was set on getting my baby's bird food back, and I did. But not without a little casualty to my thumb. I was beaked! The first ride we went on was a slow moving boat through the "Islands of Southeast Asia". We got some great shots of the Orangutan's and had a chance to sit and relax :)

Time went by VERY quickly. Before we knew it, it was was just about dinner time! We had enjoyed the day so much that we completely skipped over lunch... although we did find a great buffet style restaurant in one of the sections. We decided to leave near closing time. On our way home we stopped at one of our favorite eatery's from Minnesota- Culvers! We all grabbed a bite to eat and headed home for some cake and a little happy birthday song!

Happy Birthday, Abby.

We love you and hope that you had a terrific 9th birthday celebration

These next to videos are of Isa and the Gibbon and Elephants. She really enjoyed seeing both. Well, actually, she really enjoyed seeing it all!

Academic Excellence

Carly has been on Honor Roll for as long as she has been in school ...little smarty ... well at the school she is at now, they have a ceremony at the end of the school year, to recognize all the honor students in the 6th, 7th & 8th grade. Here she is holding her certificate and sporting her medallion.
We are so proud of her and KNOW that the future holds great things for her. She is an amazing young lady and over-comes all obsticles that she is faced with.

Our Date

Tom and I played hookey today and went out on a 'date'. We finally utilized our Columbus Zoo family pass :) We went first thing in the morning, hoping to beat the crowd, which worked out quite well. It was our first time to the zoo, so I was like a kid in a candy shop... Tom was too a little. After wandering around for a few hours we decided to head back home. After all, we have kids coming home from school, and Tom's asthma started acting up :(

We had a great, kid free, time. I would GLADLY go back, anytime. It was no San Diego Zoo, Sea World or Long Beach Aquarium, but it was fun. My favorite would have to be the birds. I bought a cup of food for them. Upon entrance I was attacked. Then attacked some more! I had to shake them off in order to leave!!! I enjoyed watching the gorilla's too. Well, mainly because there was one laying on a board in the exihibit with its butt facing us. Yes, I had a very childish moment. If you think that's bad, you should have seen me when we were in the monkey exhibit--there was a male courting a female, chasing her around with his ringy-ding-ding-dong hangin' out. Yes I got a kick out of it. Yes, that's childish :)

We are planning to take the girls on Abby's birthday. Hopefully it won't be too hot... or busy.

Moms Are Like Bagels

Mom's Day Bagels

Moms are a lot like Bagels:

They come in all shapes and sizes.

Some are plain, while others are full of flavor.

Some are tough on the outside, but soft on the inside.

No two are alike.

& both mom and bagel are great to wake up to :)

I have come to the conclusion that about the only things I can make are bread and bagels. :)

For mothers day, I made myself a little over a dozen- although I have a feeling that the little mouths of the house will be more then willing to help me eat them :)

I made mostly everything bagels, a few sprinkles and two cinnamon/sugar. The everythings are really yummy--poppy seeds, salt, pepper, sunflower seeds & sesame seeds :) If I missed anything on an everything, let me know!

I really like making bagels, they are just time consuming for what little time they actually last in the kitchen :)

Happy Mother's Day part 2

Happy Mother's Day, Nana

We love you and miss you :)

Happy Mother's Day

Even though

we are thousands of miles away,

know that we are thinking of you

on this very special day

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom & grandma around :)

We love you

Fishies? Come Back!

She calls for her fish to come back ever since we flushed them on Sunday. I think she has been traumatized!

Flushing Fishies

So yesterday, the girls and I decided to pull a prank on Tom. Well, that kinda backfired!

See, spur of the moment we decided to get some 10 cent feeder fish. We have a small tank that we 'had planned' to put them in. However the tank has canvas on the bottom, so putting water in it was out of the question. Strike 1. The plan was to buy a snake eventually (over my dead body), so we named one of the fish "Snake". When we got home all I had to use as a fish tank was a flower vase. Strike 2. When Tom got home he wasn't very pranked. :( He wanted to know what we were going to feed them. Strike 3. I didn't buy fish food. So I gave them a cheerio.

Strike 4.

This morning Snake was the first to be dead. Perhaps it was that banana flavored cherrio. Strike 5.

So to prevent further strikes and heartbreaks, we decided to bid our farewell and flush them down the toilet. All alive- well, except our beloved Snake! LOL

Strike 6. The living fish did not 'flush' down like planned.

So I grabbed the camera to catch the farewell... for the second time. So here goes! LOL

Grandma Betty squared...

Today, May 1st, marks the birthdays of both mine and Toms grandmothers birthdays :) Ironically they are both named Elizabeth, AKA: Betty, and both born on May 1st!!! Anyhow- Happy Birthday!

Grandma Betty Watson, celebrating in heaven... my guess is celebrating by playing BINGO or at the horse track!

Grandma Betty Werner is celebrating in Huntington Beach... I'm sure having a grand time with her friends!!!