Surly and unruly

Before school on Thursday, I was trying to take pictures of Charlotte in an outfit that her Grandma JoJo bought her.  It was uncharacteristic for Charlotte to protest having her picture taken (this shot elicited shrieks of protest).

But when Peter wouldn't even say "CHEESE!" I knew something was amiss.

There was no real reason for the surliness, but the photos I took as evidence just cracked me up.  Peter looks especially tough clinging to his favorite pink pig bubba and slurping on his finger.  Charlotte never did pose for her glamor shot before it was time to leave for preschool, and after Petey and I had a hellacious trip to the library I realized I should have taken the hint and not even attempted to drag this surly customer around town on errands.  I learned my lesson, boss.  Must have been the phase of the moon or something.

One more Hoosier moment

My new favorite sports bar is Yogi's just off the IU campus.  Where else do they bring you your drinks in mini pitchers?  Next time I go there, I'm hoping to order a beer in such a glass.  Poor Abbey has a little over 3 more years until she can do that legally.  Yes, that is just ice water in Abbey's pitcher.

Hoosier hijinks

This weekend, we invaded the campus of Indiana University to visit my sister/cousin, Abbey, who is a freshman there!  The leaves were just starting to change, which combined with all of the gorgeous limestone buildings made for spectacular scenery.  Being showed around by a beautiful coed didn't hurt either.  We started the visit with a quick walk to a favorite campus eatery.

We told Charlotte to be on the lookout for Goldilocks -- we hear she likes to sample your pizza if you're not looking.

Waiting for a table was worth it -- the pizza was delicious!  Charlotte ate two big pieces.

While I dropped the boys off at the hotel for naptime, Charlotte inspected Abbey's dorm room.  She declared it to be awesome.

Ta da!

I talked to my mom on the phone during the drive up to Bloomington, and she told me to look for evidence that Abbey was using the Swiffer duster that Mom sent her in a care package.  Really?  You sent her a Swiffer duster?  Not sure whether Abbey's friends would understand how funny and appropriate that was coming from my obsessively clean mother.

The view out of Abbey's window is beautiful!  This was one of the few brief moments of sun we saw all weekend.  Otherwise, it was a typical rainy midwestern fall weekend.

While Petey napped and Corey watched college football, Abbey and I took Charlotte downtown to WonderLab -- a fun science museum for kids.  She met a big dinosaur,

got to bang on a lot of things, and much much more!

After a fun dinner at Yogi's sports bar, we headed to the Memorial Union (the student center) to let the kids wreak havoc.  We came across not one, but two wedding receptions.  Petey tried to trip a couple of groomsmen and then attempted to crash one of the parties, but we snatched him up just in time.  Charlotte liked seeing the ladies in the pretty dresses.

There's a break in the rain -- let's go outside to run around out there so we won't ruin anymore weddings!

When we first arrived, all four of us had on our Indiana shirts.  When Abbey showed no hint of embarrassment, I was super impressed.  We changed the kids before dinner, but Corey and I decided to keep looking as dorky as possible on the off-chance we might run into some cute boys that Abbey knows.  No such luck.  It was a gameday (although the game was away), so we just blended into the crowds.

Sunday morning, Abbey took us downtown for brunch at a great restaurant that even had a special back room in which to stash all the families with obnoxious children.  Good thing -- Petey was especially obnoxious and was ejected from the premises (by Daddy) while the girls finished eating.  Here is the little rabble-rouser with his new favorite toy.

IU's campus was beautiful and everyone we met seemed very nice.  I think Abbey's Hoosier blood will carry her through the initial difficulties of moving thousands of miles from home.  We can't wait to come back at the end of October to see the IU/Northwestern Homecoming game.  I'm already getting pressure from the Northwestern side of the family -- will we be wearing purple or red?  Maybe both??

The table tent

The kiddos were playing in the table tent (a felt cover I sewed for our kitchen table for the kids for Christmas) a couple of days ago and suddenly they were awfully quiet.  I peeked in and saw this:

"Shh, Mommy!  We're playing sleepover.  Don't wake us up!"

I was informed that the third pillow in there was for me, and I had to go in and lay down too.

Charlotte requested the table tent again today, and soon after the kids abandoned it to play upstairs I caught another little critter playing "sleepover" inside:

Shh!  Don't wake me up!!

Sorry, Rocky.  I'll just back away quietly and go about my business.

WHAT ON EARTH?!?!?!?

We were driving home from Murfreesboro this morning on Highway 96 after a quick trip to pick up something from my friend's house.  We were near the turnoff to Arrington Vineyards and I spotted some ponies and horses (maybe 5 or 6 altogether) walking on the shoulder of the road.  The car in front of me wisely slowed down and stopped.  One of the horses looked a little funny to me.  I squinted, and sure enough IT WAS A FREAKING ZEBRA!  I whipped out my cell phone and started snapping photos.  (Click on the photo to see it larger.)

He is the one all the way on the right in the above photo.  Below, I got a great shot of him mooning me (on the left).  

Then, a woman appeared from a driveway and started trying to round up the horses/ponies/zebra.  They all got nervous and tried to cross the road.  Luckily, they reconsidered and went back.  The rest started to cooperate, but the zebra started looking like he was going to hitch a ride with us in the Big Red Van.

Finally, we stopped gawking and rolled by slowly.  I sure hope they got the animals all back under control.  I probably could have stopped to help, but I likely would have just caused more of a ruckus because I know absolutely nothing about equines.  Charlotte wants to go back and ride the zebra, but I told her we would just have to use our imaginations to do it instead.

The question remains -- what on earth is a zebra doing living out in Arrington, Tennessee?

Little Shop of Horrors

When I told Charlotte we had dental appointments today, she told me she was afraid to go.  You never would have known it once we got there!  She hopped right up in the chair and let the hygienist do a full cleaning on her.  She picked chocolate for the flavor of the polishing toothpaste stuff (which made me gag) and as long as she was holding her favorite monkey (the one whose teeth she loves to brush every time we go to the dentist) she was more interested in watching the TV up in the corner of the room than worrying about what the hygienist was doing.

The funniest part was that Peter just HAD to sit up on the end of the chair by her.  He watched on and off until the hygienist got to the tooth polishing part.  Then, he started protesting and climbing up to make sure Charlotte wasn't being hurt or something.  It was pretty sweet.

When the dentist came in to check everything, Charlotte climbed back up into the chair (I had gotten my teeth cleaned after she did) and donned the sunglasses he lent her to cut the glare of the bright exam light.  He declared her to be cavity-free and sent her on her way.

I was so relieved she actually opened her mouth this time.  Six months ago, she only let the hygienist count her teeth.  Then she clamped her mouth shut and refused to open it again until we were safely out of the building.  The first time, the monkey was the only one who opened his mouth.  She was a whole new kid this time -- whew!

Birthday at the Car Show

Today for my birthday, Niki and the kids took me to the annual Music City Mustang Club car show, which was held at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, TN.  I had a good time looking at all the Mustangs, and the kids enjoyed watching cars lap the track.

Does this car look familiar?  No, it's not my old car, but it IS a 2003 GT.

Niki and Charlie in the grandstands.

Me and the kids in the grandstands.

Mustang on the track.

After we watched the cars lap the track for a while, we came down out of the grandstands, and Charlie and Peter ran in circles "vrooming."

There were new Mustangs and old Mustangs, nice Mustangs, and really beat up Mustangs.

There were other non-Mustang cars there.  The owner of this Cobra let both Peter and Charlotte take turns sitting in it.

After looking at a few cars, Charlie made it clear that she wanted us to go back and watch the cars lap the track from the grandstands.

Niki and I decided not to enter the Mustang in the show, because we figured it would be all old cars.  One of the first cars we ran across was this 2011 GT with 2000 miles on it.  

They even had Mustangs from the early 90's, when I was in high school.

Niki liked this one.  She picked out a 1967 Shelby GT500, with a 428cid 355 hp V8.  This car is a beast.

Charlie picked out this 1969 Mach 1.

I like how nonchalant Charlie is about Niki carrying Peter by his overalls.  Peter loves it.

On the way home, Peter was tuckered out.

Two things that never get old

Petey clomping around the house in whatever shoes he can find:

... and Rocky sunbathing in a patch of sun:

It doesn't take much to amuse me, as you can see.  My two baby boys are the sweetest things ever (unless they are annoying the crap out of me).

Happy birthday Corey!

We took Corey to a Mustang car show this morning at the Nashville Superspeedway (yes it's all one word!) for his 36th birthday.  More on that later, but I just had to post this ridiculously adorable photo.  Like father, like son.

Another typical school day

School (well, preschool anyway) is becoming part of the regular routine.  I'm still getting up extra early to actually shower before drop-off because I still want to make a good impression.  We'll introduce the other parents to "unshowered Niki" once I have earned their trust and/or fallen back into my slothful habits.  Thanks to last night's storm, it was cold enough to dress Charlie Jo in a cool new top courtesy of Grandma JoJo and Grandpa Spike.

Peter and I dropped her off and then ran a bunch of errands (library, gas station, drug store).  We ate lunch, played some with Alicia, and then headed back to school to get Charlie Jo.  While we waited the last few minutes before it was time to go in, Petey watched forlornly as other kids played on the super cool playground.

Then, Petey raced up and down the hallways as other moms admired his overalls.  Finally it was time to reunite with his beloved sister (aka his nemesis).  They hugged and then trotted down the hallway hand in hand.  My stupid cell phone only managed a blurry photo of the cuteness.

Now we're home and it's time for naps.  Just like clockwork!

Camping!

This past weekend, we went camping with some friends of ours to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park.  This was our first time camping together, and we had a blast!  

We looked at turtles at the Nature Center at the Land Between the Lakes . . .

We played in Kentucky Lake . . .

We played in the dirt at the campsite . . .

Home sweet home (in the field) . . .

TENT!