Camping!

About two weeks ago, Dan got out all of our camping gear, which had not been used since we moved to this house. Not that we were out camping when Catherine and the twins were little! A few times at the old house, Dan set up a tent in the basement. So naturally, when the kids saw the tents, and the sleeping bags, and the air mattress, they got very excited and wanted to camp immediately. Dad agreed, even though it was a weeknight. We hadn't started school yet and he figured they would get him up early enough so he could go to work (they did).


So here they are in front of the big tent, which was for Daddy and the boys:
Not too far from the house, which was okay for the first time camping.




The little tent, for the girls:

Where did Anthony and I sleep? In the house, of course!

Dominic and Joseph test out their sleeping bag:

Do you think the girls will be ready to sleep when it gets dark?

Anthony says, hey, this looks pretty neat. Can I come in?

Can I sleep here tonight?

After lots of snacks and a trip into the house to get warm pajamas on (it got chilly that night), they were ready to settle down and go to sleep. No way! There was lots of silliness and stories and more snacks. And much playing with flashlights: The boys fell asleep first, then the girls finally nodded off at 10:00, and they all slept out there all night. It was an exciting time!

First Day Of School, 2010

We just finished our first week of school! So this past Monday was the first day.




The kids were so excited and ready to start long before Mommy was:



Here is Catherine, our first grader:



Dominic and Anne, who are in kindergarten this year:



Joseph, the preschooler:



And finally we have Anthony, our little babyschooler. He is learning how to sit up in babyschool.
And he likes to disrupt things.



Who me?

Bicycling For Two

We've been having some busy and exciting times around here, and I have to start with some biking fun. About a week and a half ago, Dominic asked to have the training wheels taken off his bike. So one night Daddy did so, and then we saw a sight. Not only were the wheels of his bike both flat, the bike was ridiculously small for him. So the next day, Daddy stopped at the store over his lunch break and after dinner we all went outside. Catherine and Joseph were excited for Dominic. Where is Dominic? He was so excited, he was waiting in the garage with his eyes closed!



He took it for a test drive. Anthony was very interested in what Dominic was doing:

This is easy!

And Joseph was ready to hop on Dominic's old bike, which is now his new bike!

So now the moment of truth:

There he goes!

And a crash!

Another try:

Off he goes again.

Daddy gives him a push. Notice that I volunteered for camera (and Anthony) duty. :)

And another crash. There were lots of those at first. But Dominic really got the hang of the whole balance thing very quickly.

Most of the time he came up smiling and determined to get on again and learn to ride:

However, on his final run of the evening, he ran into a tree. You know how it takes a little longer to get the whole steering thing when learning to ride a bike. So after consoling and some first aid, he was ready to show off his battle scars:

And I have to report that after a few days of practice, Dominic was able to ride several times in a row around the house and after a few more days, he was able to get his bike started by himself, and now he can, for the most part, ride where he wants to go! He was a determined young man and he seems so grown up now riding his bike around with Catherine.



Now on to sweet little Anne. When she saw Dominic riding across the yard that first evening, she decided she wanted to try as well. So Daddy took off her training wheels and helped her get started. After a time or two, she was not liking that feeling of being unbalanced and definitely not liking the falling part. She made it clear she did not want Daddy to help her anymore and she played around for a while:

She did not take both feet off the ground again:

In the end, it was clear she didn't want to learn to ride her bike yet(i.e. did not want to go through the falling down/getting up/try again process), so the training wheels are back on. She'll try again later!

No, not quite ready for bike riding:

This Picture Is So...Joseph!

It makes me laugh every time I see it.

We Have Sure Gotten Our Money's Worth Out Of This One!

This is the swing set that we bought when Catherine and the twins were little, when we lived at the other house. It has been used and abused for probably four years now. They do tricks and flips off the side, go across the top like monkey bars, climb up and down every which way, and pretend all kinds of things using it.


It is fun to watch the four "big" kids play on it together.

They can all swing(or glide) on it at the same time:

They have also learned that they can't all go the same way at the same time or the legs of the swing set will come up and then go down with a big thump.

We'll have to get out the baby swing and attach it, so Anthony can get in on the fun!

I Can Never Get Enough...

...of these cute baby pictures! Look at those cheeks:


The kids call this Anthony's "funny face." Anthony discovered he can tuck his lower lip beneath his upper lip and the kids laugh hysterically every time they see him do it.

Well, I'll just blow some raspberries too, while I'm at it!

Look, Mom, I'm in charge here and I need to be entertained!

Let's see, I think I'll sample this arm:

Two little heads:

Joseph and his "Anth'ny." Somehow he turns Anthony into a two syllable name.

Let's Go For A Ride

This is a fun way to eat...

...watermelon! From the garden, of course.

Anthony already loves to ride with Dan on the lawn mower.

There they go, off into the sunset!

What Are Trees For...

...but to climb!


I did not know they could climb this tree. See Dominic back there?

Catherine enjoys the view from between the leaves:

Time for the dismount:

A little help from the bench:

No big deal, Mom! Now it is Dominic's turn: