Hi Mom!

Isaac and Sydney just wanted to give their mom a special message while she's away.

We're doing great here and hope you have a good time in Ohio!

We're Baaaack!

Our trip to the Portland Children's Museum was a big hit. It had it's high points and low points, it's sticky points and its sweaty points, but all-in-all, it was a triumph. Here's a blow-by-blow:

We left around 10:30 but by the time I stopped to get gas we were just too hungry to go on. I busted out the PB&J and the kids went to town.

When we got there it was raining with a mix of snow. We ran in and quickly realized that we weren't the only one to have the clever idea of going to the Children's Museum on a soggy Spreak Break Wednesday. The place was packed to the brim with tiny kids suffering from some serious Ritalin withdrawal and their pampering lumbering grandparents. It was like a commercial for Playskool meets Depends. Very strange.


The kids thought the building section was a little dull. Ash Lee liked the hats and the older kids liked running to the top level to bang down on the portholes at us.


The boys ran off to find the digging pit while the girls explored the medical area. There was an ambulance with flashing lights, a working receptionist area and anatomically correct baby dolls. The girls found a little fold out couch and got comfy.


We made it in time to "Jam with Johnny." We sang Wheels on the Bus, If You're Happy & You Know It, I've Been Working On The Railroad, Miss Mary Mack and many other public domain songs ...along with some Original Works (available on CD in the gift shop). It was...long. It only lasted half an hour but Johnny managed to make it feel like a whole week of wholesome family entertainment. We even had to take a potty break. The kids really liked it though and the best part was when Ash Lee & Scout got up and danced in front of everyone...they did the Robot. It was RAD.


Next we went to the Twilight Area where the kids colored with LEDs onto glow painted walls. It was really cool. I took a video so you could get a better idea of what was going on. The flash makes it look bright and shiny but it's actually really dark.

The video is Scout and Ash Lee. Scout says "We are bad bad children, we are coloring on the walls" and Ash Lee says "I'm coloring a picture for my mommy."

The kids all got into the trees for a picture but Ash Lee decided that was a little too dark for her. She went over to the theater section and got her make up started while we finished up the tree pictures.

At this point we lost Ash Lee. I was drawing the butterfly on Williams face (his choice I swear) when Scout took off back toward the trees. Troy went after her and when he got back seconds later, Ash Lee was no where to be seen. Talk about panic time. We were both grabbing kids and running in opposite directions. Troy was giving orders to Random and Savannah who were splitting up and I was YELLING her name (lost child time is not the time for worrying about causing a ruckus). The staff at the Children's Museum was AWESOME. A lady came up to me with a radio and said, "How can I help?" I described Ash Lee (all the while still running around calling her name). She radioed all the areas and followed me around getting more descriptions. All the areas radioed back to her and she was this little command central checking off all the areas ("Clay area clear" "Water Area Clear"). They found her just around the corner from where we were on a stage with a group of other kids having a blast. Troy and I recovered from our cardiac arrest and thanked those people who were so fast. The whole thing lasted about a minute from the time we looked up and didn't see her to having her back with us. After that we gave Savannah the job of holding Ash Lee's hand and Random the job of holding Scout's hand.


Next we went to the digging area (only one exit!) and let them dig around in the rubber chips. They had their painted faces at this point.


Finally, we ate the rest of our lunch at the snack area. Everyone got to pick their own drink. The kids were so well behaved. I took them one at a time to pick out their drink while other kids (aforementioned ADD kids) were running around pushing the buttons and the change return (on our vending machine while we were trying to order and their grandparents just watched with this haggard expression), they just waited patiently and were joyfully grateful when they got their treasured drink.

It stopped snowing by the time we left but it was still drizzling. The ride home was uneventful and now the kids are watching Pete's Dragon and eating crackers...I think I need a nap!

7 Days in A Week

Here are the girls singing our 7 days in a week song that we sing everyday during circle time. I thought about making them do it again because Scout was doing some weird eyebrow experiments, Sydney was stroking her imaginary mustache and Ash Lee was off on planet Space Cadet for a couple of bars but that's just kinda who they are. Weird, quirky, silly but oh so cute.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
There are 7 days, there are 7 days, there are 7 days in a week.

Smile!

Yesterday we were outside playing when Savannah got the grumps. Scout and Ash Lee started singing this song to her to get her to be happy. It didn't work right away but they were relentless and totally cute. Eventually she came over and played with us. I give Savannah a lot of credit for pulling herself out of the grumps. When people start singing peppy songs at my face, it is NOT my first instinct to get LESS grumpy!

I finally got new batteries for the camera so I was able to record them today. Here are the words just in case you can't quite understand:

If you chance to meet a frown,
Do not let it stay,
Quickly turn it upside down
And smile that frown away.

No one likes a frowny face,
Change it for a smile,
Make the world a better place,
By smiling all the while.

P is for Performing

Yesterday the girls called me in to see the performance of their play. I brought the camera in to snap some stills of the girls but when they started it was so hilarious I had them do it again so I could film it. The problem with that is that when the camera comes on the girls lose their minds. Oh well, so our girls are over-actors and camera hogs...doesn't sound too far off from "real" actors to me!

One note before you see this...the beds WERE made at some point in the morning but after a couple hours of fort building and play performing the room looks like a tornado hit it.

Anyway, here is their performance. I think the plot was this: The Evil Pig Lord appeared and tried to eat the girls. Some were eaten but one got away by jumping into the ocean...or something. Enjoy.

The Pig
By Savannah, Scout, Sydney and Ash Lee

5 Little Ducks

Both girls have been running around singing 5 Little Ducks all morning. When I tried to capture it on video they immediately stopped talking and just started posing. They were very cute but completely silent. This is our 3rd attempt at doing something other than ham it up in front of the camera. Unfortunately my batteries ran out so we won't try it again until I find some more!





The girls have watched this video 5 times now and they want to keep watching it. Ash Lee says this is "my favorite movie."

Edit: When the older kids came home from school Scout and Ash Lee were so excited to show them their movie that we watched it about 20 more times. Rand and Savannah both asked me what the heck they were singing so here's a translation:

(it's the last verse of the song 5 Little Ducks)
1 little duck went out to play,
over the hills and far away
But when Old Mommy duck went quack quack quack,
No little ducks came waddling back
But when Old Daddy duck went QUACK QUACK QUACK
5 little ducks came waddling back.