Camp Nonna Mon. 6-22

Monday everyone was up early again, except Wesley of course. We had waffles for breakfast except Carsten who wanted eggs and grits. We went on a walk with Nonna. We walked 1.9 miles and did very well. We took the stroller and Barbie car. Everyone took turns riding and walking except for Wesley. He and Caitlin took turns in the stroller and Barbie car. Caitlin walked a little of the way. Carsten had a goal to walk the entire way and he pretty much did it, except for a short time when he was driving Caitlin. Caitlin can drive ok but she is in danger of getting a DUI with all her weaving. After we arrived home we went swimming, we were really hot! We made tie dye shirts but after washing them they fade too much. We didn't leave them in the dye long enough. It is too bad because they really looked good. Even Wesley and Caitlin did their own and they looked good! Wesley took his nap after lunch and we rested in the house by watching a movie. The girls worked on decorating a tea set. Carsten was disappointe

d, Nonna did not think he would want to paint a tea set but he said he would have. He had lots of suggestions for the girls on how they should paint theirs. No one would listen to hi

m. All the girls did their own design. Caitlin immediately knew how she was going to paint hers and did her own design and colors. Everyone was really happy with the work they did. Carissa drew out her idea and thought about exactly what she wanted to do. Maddie was getting a little frustrated because she knew she wanted

bumble bees on one piece but just could not do it on the

sample paper. She showed Nonna what she wanted and Nonna did paint them on for her. Other than that and a few touch up for Caitlin they did their own. Carsten was happy when Wesley woke up. They went outside and had a snack and watched part of a movie. Wesley loves his snacks! We ate nachos for dinner and then Poppa took us fishing down the road. Nonna walked us down there while Poppa was getting the

fishing poles ready. We love to get sticks and pull out the "crap" that is floating. Nonna called Poppa to bring Wesley's swimmies since he had no fear of the water. We had a good time even before Poppa came. We started fishing. The fish kept eating our worms! Finally Caitlin caught a little fish! She didn't want to get too c

lose to it, but liked looking at it. Maddie then caught an even littler fish! Wesley loved fishing; luckily he was using a old pole with the reel taken off because he dropped it in the water. Nonna was just getting ready to hand a cane pole to Carsten when she caught

a fish, so we count that as Carsten catching it. It may sound like we were catching a lot of fish but mostly the fish were just eating the worms off our hooks. Carsten, Caitlin, Wesley and Carsten gave up and started cleaning up the junk in the water. Someone once told them they should get paid for that and they work like someday someone will! Maddie kept at it and ended up catching 2 more fish! Poppa caught one also. We went home and got ready for be

d. Nonna was going to let us eat ice-cream in bed. We love to do that! Wesley just didn't get it. He went to the table, and it was hard getting him upstairs. We guess he thought he was not going to get any if he wasn't in his seat. We started the bed time train. Wesley was supposed to be the third one "dropped" off at their bed. After the first stop, he pushed Caitlin out of second place and led the train straight to his bed! He takes his bedtime seriously! Nonna put Maddie's bed in her closet so she wouldn't wake anyone up if she cried. Maddie asked how she will leave in the morning without waking Nonna or Poppa up. She asked "how" they wake up in the morning. Nonna told her, well the past 2 days it was with someone saying "Nonna, Nonna, Nonna" She said "Oh Yeah, and laughed". Everyone went to sleep real well.

Camp Nonna Sun. 6-21

Sunday we were really good, except for the first thing. Maddie and Carsten did not see Wesley in his bed. They went in and woke Nonna up and said Wesley wasn't in bed and wasn't with Carissa. Nonna jumped up and checked and he was sound asleep in his bed. I guess everything was too dark in the room to see him. We got up ate breakfast went and brushed our teeth and put our church clothes on that Nonna laid out for us and then we were on our way to church. We sat us front on the stand and sang Father's Day songs and then sat in the pews with Poppa and Wesley. Wesley was real good sitting with Poppa. He liked seeing us up front and waved to us a lot. Since it was Sunday we couldn't swim so we watched movies. Wesley went to bed as soon as we finished lunch. We played princesses and knights and had a good time. Caitlin likes chasing Wesley around and around through the downstairs! Both love running and yelling around and around. Nonna put Wesley in bed for the night and we started our "train to bed". We wanted Wesley to join us so we got him up and he joined us. He was second to get in bed. Maddie started getting homesick when she got in bed and began crying. The others heard her and started getting upset. Caitlin decided she wanted to call her Mom to pick her up. Carissa was able to tell her a story and she was fine. Everyone went to sleep before too long.

Camp Nonna Sat. 6-20

Saturday was an afternoon of swimming and playing. We loved the pool and the Barbie car of course! Last year Caitlin wasn't totally sold on the pool but this time she loves it. Wesley also loves to get in the pool. The occasional bug floating around does not even deter him. We had a cook-out Sat. night and went through 2 pkgs. of hotdogs in no time flat! Poppa took us on a trailer ride and we loved that also. Wesley has no trouble going to bed as long as he thinks everyone else is also. All his activity is wearing himself out. He did wake up from his nap and asked for his Mom, but as soon as he went downstairs and started playing with the kids he was fine. When getting his PJ's on he asked for his Dad, Nonna just said to him, “Your Mom and Dad are home, and you’re at Camp Nonna." He said OK and that was it. He did kiss a picture of his Mom and Dad before going to sleep without a whimper.

Eli's 10 year High School Reunion

June 2009

Eli and I before the "BIG" evening!

Eli and Phil

The class of '99

Carsten loves rocking out with his cool cousin, Colby!

Our litte drummer girl!

Trip to Nonna and Poppa's

After the trip to the Meyer's, the kids and I headed to my Mom and Dad's (Eli had to go home to work and school). The kids took turns cooking and being waiters. They loved riding in Poppa's new kid trailer and going to the lake. We also had a fun trip to Myrtle Beach, SC.


Caitlin decided to use a marker for lipstick.


Caitlin loved being a waitress.





Caitlin's night was hot dogs and hamburgers.





Carsten had taco night.




We went to a Green Health Fair, the kids loved the bouncy thing.


Caitlin was a statue in the middle of the hot tub.

Memorial Day with Meyers

We had a fun trip to visit the Meyers. We went to the zoo, swam and just hung out! Of course stayed up way too late playing games.

Awards Day 2009

Carissa and Carsten both received Principal' Honor Roll for making "A"s all year and they also both received the Math Award for their grade level! We are so proud of them, they are wonderful students!

Caitlin's Cock-n-Bull

Okay, so I am starting to think that I should have named my blog "Caitlin's Cock-n-Bull." I don't mean to but for some reason most of my post have been about her. She is at that age were she just says the funniest things. She keeps me on my toes with what will come out of her mouth next. Here are a few of those things...

A few months ago I finally got my passport, needless to say I haven't used it yet. Eli got his last year for business trips and I had been dying to get mine, thinking he might run to away without me. :) When I finally got mine in the mail, I was excited! As I pull it out of the envelope I hear Caitlin behind me say "Hey Mom, you got your China!" Eli got his to go to China so I guess Caitlin thought a passport was China! Too cute!




One afternoon Caitlin and I are coming down the road and we come to a light that had just turned green yet the cars ahead of us hadn't started moving yet. As soon as we came to a stop Caitlin pipes up for the backseat "Damn it, the lights green!" I am completely startled and turn around and ask what she said. She replied, "The light is green and they're not going!" with a totally aggravated look on her face. I asked her to say exactly what she said and sure enough I heard her right. I swear the worst she has heard me say in traffic is "heifer" which is what I call idiots on the road!




Caitlin has been coming up with her own terms for things. Her most current is "noodle wraps" for spaghetti straps!

A death in the family.

A couple of days ago we suffered a tragic loss in our house. Bubbles, our girl's beta fish, died. After days of watching her, who is actually a him, slowly loose her spunk, I warned Caitlin it might die soon. I kept checking on "her" all day so Caitlin wouldn't find it.
As soon as I noticed Bubbles not moving along the bottom, I informed Caitlin her fish had died. At first she was in a little bit of shock and stated that she didn't think fish could die. The tears started and she asked "Do fish go to heaven?" We then fished Bubbles out to flush her down the toilet. Caitlin was still very distraught when she ask "When Jesus comes back alive will my fish come back alive too?"
Later on that day she wondered if Jesus would let us take care of Bubbles again.
Now hopefully we can keep Cocktail alive, I don't think Caitlin can handle another loss.

Trying to curb the nagging...

I really enjoy organizing. My dream job would be organizing people’s homes and life. I love the organization shows on TLC.



I came up with this for my family. I used ideas from multiple systems. We have been using it for about 9 months and are still perfecting the system.
The top board is for Eli and I. I love leaving little “honey-do” list for him! I also used it to schedule our “stay-cation” over spring break so I did not have to answer the question “What are we eating/doing next/tomorrow?” every 2 seconds!



The kids each have their own board with their list of things that need to be done, morning and night.



When they have completed a task they simply move the one they finish over.



On the right side we hang either homework or their latest artwork.



I used pictures for Caitlin since she doesn’t read yet.



I also use the board for discipline, mainly over the summer when we are together all day. I have hearts, stars and Xs. They get stars when I catch them doing good things and when they finish their day and night chores. Xs are when they are being rude to me or each other and they get a heart each day they have more stars than Xs.