The (new) Hudgins Family Blog

2009-01-19T07:09:00.001-08:00

Sorry no photo's in a while. We got a new camera right before Christmas (after our old one fell out of the car and smashed) and I am having issues getting the pictures up. First of all I couldn't figure out how to turn some of the pictures to post them, I gave up and just tried to post the ones that were facing the correct way :P. Now Blogger gives me a 404 error when I try to post any of the new pictures. I will get it eventually and post a whole bunch of random pictures in no particular order just so I can catch up and get back on track LOL!

2008-12-15T05:52:00.000-08:00

The Brownie's acted as color guard and helped run the ceremony Sunday for Troop 99's investiture.

After the pledge of allegiance the girls read a story about Juliet "Daisy" Low
and the Daisy's said their Girl Scout promise in public for the very first time! Afterward they got their Daisy membership pin and first earned petal badges

2008-12-15T05:43:00.000-08:00

Group hug!
Daisy troop 99

2008-12-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

We went with the hounds to see Santa at a local pet shoppe and we ran into these little stinkers!
Katie after her hair curls. She looks so cute!

2008-12-08T19:42:00.000-08:00

The day after the Holiday show we had a little party for our dear Uncle Dave's birthday. Grandma Jo made a yummy cake and Katie of course got all dressed up to eat it. . .

2008-12-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

Syd was in a 3rd grade class play today and tonight. That is her in the middle she was a "cousin" .

The toys came to life

2008-12-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

Santa
The "bad" cousins who think at first they won't get gifts

2008-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Sisters at the Holiday show. Dec 6, 2008

I was playing with features and somehow changed the color picture into black and white! oops!

2008-12-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

Saturday I spent the day as class mom for Syd's dance class in their holiday show. I forgot my camera at home but once Marc arrived at the venue he brought it to me (YAY!). These pictures are all backstage. No flash photography is allowed during the show and our camera is crummy at taking pictures in the dark.
One of the little girls in my group was in Hip hop as well as the Jazz number the class did ('Zat you Santa Claus?)
Chilling before we went on. We were there Monday, Tuesday and Weds 3 hours at practice then again Friday night 4 1/2 hours. Saturday dancers call was at 9:15 and the show wasn't until 4! It was a long day but the girls worked SO hard and were wonderful! I may try to get a clip from the DVD when we get it.
After the Grandma's came back to the house (we were suppose to go out but it was snowing and getting icy so we didn't)

2008-12-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

Every year since Syd began school I help organize the schools Holiday Secret shoppe. This year I got some pictures.

Set up of the Holiday Secret Shoppe, this picture is the silent auction table.
We set up a store and wrapping area for about 300 kids. The idea is that they come in (no parents) are assigned someone to help budget their shopping, pay and get the gifts wrapped (therefore keeping them a secret until the holidays). We go and buy about 1500-2000 items to sell the night of the shoppe and usually make around $2000.00 profit for our PTO (mostly from the donated items we auction)
It's a lot of work and we get the help of many many volunteers. We also sell food, have tables set up where the different grades can sell things to make money for their classes, have a full night of entertainment and even pictures with Santa! Much of the work is done by 4 of us!Here are some of the cheerleaders from the High school helping the smaller kids shop

2008-12-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

The aftermath. 300 children between 5:30 and 7
You can see how little was left over

2008-11-30T09:16:00.000-08:00

Pre-eating festivities
Yummy snacks
Pretty Syd
The turkey before it was cooked. It was the best turkey ever! It was also the biggest one I have ever cooked- 18.5#
Thank you for wrapping me up Katie!

2008-11-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

before begging nap
Dinner (my Mom, Syd and Katie)
Uncle Dave and Dad H
Dad V, Mom H (with camera) my Mom and Syd
Syd giving us an after dinner recital with her violin

2008-11-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

Between meal and dessert begging rest
PIE!

Here is the last happy Katie. That night we had much tummy ache and sickness into the next day :P

2008-11-24T16:53:00.001-08:00

I meant to post a little bit about Thanksgiving. I hope the camera holds up ok (it fell and is taped together to get it to work now!) cause we are having Thanksgiving here this year. Hope you all have a GREAT holiday.

2008-11-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

Did someone say "Cheese"?
Syd, Kay and Val
They even sleep alike!

2008-11-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

Katie my girl with the gourd skull our friend gave us when we went to his Samhain celebration.
Marc on his birthday :)
How many times do I have to tell you woman! No pictures before my coffee!
Welcoming home a new grey :)

Valaria. She is a six year old girl who had been in a home previously but needed to be re-homed (not cause she was a bad girl). She is a total doll and we already adore her.

2008-11-18T12:16:00.000-08:00

the girls in their winter coats :)
they look alike don't they? Ivy is on my left, she has the spot over her eye
Our Valley girl
Pictures Kay took of sassy daddy and beautious Syd

2008-11-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

We are opening our family to another canine kid!

When we decided to adopt Ivy we knew we wanted to eventually have two dogs, the suggestion from the greyhound adoption was to get the first dog and really settle them into family life then add a second. That way the dogs don't cling to, and bond, only with each other.

Ivy has been with us now a little over 3 months, she is part of the family. We love her and feel it is definitely time to add our second dog. We contacted First State Greyhounds and filled out our application and got the call back. We met Val http://www.firstgreys.org/availablehounds (at the bottom of the page) a few weeks ago and really liked her. Ivy also met her and they seem to be a good fit so we will be bringing her home on Nov. 15th or 16th! We are all very happy and can't wait till she is home!

Ivy
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=900713

Val

One political note, I promise not to do this often

2008-11-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

On my blog I have not said a whole lot about my political views, if you are reading this on Facebook or MySpace you may have more of an insight to my thoughts on politics. No matter who won last night I planned on reaching out, because we are all Americans and we are all in this together.

Every four years we pull together and vote for the person who represents us to the world. We don’t all vote for the same person but whoever wins is our President either way. Last night, finally, many Americans decided to exercise that right and vote! It was a wonderful and beautiful thing to see people passionate enough to get in line and wait (some times for hours) to have their vote counted. That is important no matter who won, the people spoke and were heard. Democracy won no matter what.

You may not have voted for Obama, you may not be too happy that he won. That’s ok, having been there myself I understand it sucks when the person you feel should be running the country isn’t elected. As an Obama supporter I wanted to extend a hand in hope that now we are past the election we can look past who won and get to work on fixing the problems.

I see an election much like a wedding. All the crazy hoopla and drama and stress leads up to it. It is an important day but not THE most important part of a marriage. Anyone who is married knows that it is WORK. You don’t always agree and you don’t always feel the same way about how to approach problems. It is working together toward a single purpose that is important.

I will speak for a lot of my friends who I know feel the same way as I do and let those of you who are not happy today know we all want the same thing. Not necessarily all the same things, we have our differences of course. We all want this country to continue to be a great place to live. We all want good judgment in the White House. We all want the problems in this country to be healed. That is the basic goal as Americans, not Republicans or Democrats or Independents.

I have not talked to one democrat that believes that Obama is the answer to every issue that has come up and will come up in the next four years. We are realistic in knowing he may fail, it is the hope that he will live up to his potential, the knowledge that he is willing to hear and think about the problems, the fact that for a lot of us he seems not only to be very smart and level headed but also moral. I know not everyone agrees with that. I get it, not everyone like him or trusts him. I hope that he lives up to what those of us who voted for him see in him. That hope is not so we can say “I told you so” not so we can feel superior. That hope is simply that if he does live up to it, if he is “the real thing” that we will all benefit.

Chrissy

2008-11-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2008. We went out and around the neighborhood and the kids scored mucho candy. Syd was a quiddich player from Harry Potter and Katie was Hannah Montana. We went out got all sugared up and next thing you know. The kids were zombies! WOOT they ate Sophie's dad and mom! I am scarier then zombies so they left me alone :)

Hope you all had an awesome Halloween!

2008-11-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

Close ups of the zombies

pwned by zombies

2008-11-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

Zombie attacks
Syd, our friend Sophie and Katie (Montana)
Witchypoo
Katie a few nights ago after Syd made her a little bed. She wasn't supposed to really fall asleep

2008-10-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

random cute pictures. Ivy angel sleeping
The morning of my 36th birthday. Me and my girlies :)

2008-10-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Always KNEW I was a witch you say? These pictures are from the beginning of the month when we had Syd's Harry Potter themed birthday party. We had a marauders map scavenger hunt, muggle quiddich game, wand making, potions, and a snitch shaped cake. The pictures would NOT post in order so I quickly gave up on trying LOL.

Kelly gets ready for take off

Fawkes, Hedwig and Scabbers help with decorating

2008-10-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

Our Headmaster
Keith (he <3's Syd!)
The kids all pose for their Hogwarts class picture (it doesn't move on Muggle computers, Sorry)
Broom flying 101. Use a broom, not a wiffle ball bat. . .

2008-10-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

Syd still opening gifts. Unfortunately these are posting out of order for some reason!

Wandmaking
The last clue on the Marauders map scavenger hunt :)

2008-10-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Silly Katie helps Syd with gift opening

More gifts
Syd has had a "boyfriend" since preschool. This pretty necklace was from him <3

2008-09-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

Ivy (in her fall coat) models the silly dog scarf that mommy made her. I am just learning how to knit, it looks funny but Ivy doesn't care :P

Ivy thinks "why does my mommy dress me funny? I haven't done anything to her"

2008-09-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

"It's a false nose!"

Eating hair... bad habit number 298
MD Renn Faire again :)

2008-09-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

Gargoyles!
The Septemberpole?
Kermie

2008-09-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Feeding Katie grapes
Maryland Renn faire has a pretty site

Sydney

2008-09-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Kaybear the vicious
Like mother like daughter
What Ivy does while we are out (or home for that matter)
Silly girls

2008-09-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

pony's FTW (for the win for you non-gamers :P)
"Take my picture. I'll make the war face..."
Dressing up daddy

2008-09-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

Pretty Ivy girl. When we took her letter boxing with us last Sunday.
For red day at school (this week and next are color weeks) Katie made Clifford the big red dog ears. I <3 the black nose LOL!

2008-09-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Renn faire season is here! we missed opening weekend but went with my best friend and her kids to celebrate her eldest's 18th birthday!
Me and the Jenny crew
Story time- the REALLY ugly duckling

2008-09-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

Warrior silliness
Jarrod
To quote Jenny "does this armor make me look fat?"
yeah- no surprises there

2008-09-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Katie the Scold
Mimes!
The girls riding the ponies

2008-08-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

No pictures today but a nice update. The girls both love their teachers! They are both adjusting very well to the new school year (though Katie is so beat at the end of the day she is easily upset). Katie also throws a fit if she can't sit at the window on the bus. I told her if this continues I will tell the bus driver to never let her have the window seat so it won't be a problem (and yes I AM that mean- she needs to get over it)

Ivy looks forward to bringing the girls to the bus stop in the morning (she gets a ton of attention there!) and picking them up. She misses them during the day.

I am so pleased so far with Syd's new teacher (we knew we loved Katie's caused Syd had her too!). I think this is telling- Syd's first day she (her whole class not just her :P) got a baggy full of small items as a welcome. It says on the front-
Welcome bags
An eraser= to let you know it is ok to make mistakes
A gem= each one of us is valuable
A package of Smarties candies= there are many different kinds of "smart"
A stick of gum= we will all stick together
Star stickers= we always shine and do our best
Heart stickers= our classroom is a safe and caring place

I love our school system, and the teachers in it. I couldn't do their job and I have the utmost respect for all they do. The (almost) make it look easy!

2008-08-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

The girls all ready for school. (Ivy looks sad but she loves the x-pen it makes her feel safe when we aren't home :P). Today is Katie's first day at Kindergarten!!!
Sydney ready for 3rd grade
The big kid all ready for her first day!

2008-08-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

Ivy and the girls (and the neighbor girls who love her too!)
Lining up for the bus
and Katie is official!
Those dark heads far back in the middle window are the girls!

2008-08-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

Our neighbors getting off the bus. They are the same ages as our girlies
Squidney :) A BIG third grader this year!
Here they are off the bus and ready for a GREAT school year.
This past weekend we had a birthday party for our two girls (July20th, Sept 4th). Our families live about 3-4 hours away so the party was a get together for all of us :). It was a very fun time!

2008-08-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

opening gifts :)

Blowing out the candles

2008-08-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

Ivy and Chef Gorden Ramsey- her favorite chewy
hunting Faun in the back yard
PICKLES!!!
Ivy the cute
A picture Kay took of me and my big wet mop 'o hair!

2008-08-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

cutie!
On Sunday we went to the PA renn faire (not our favorite but First State Greyhounds have a booth there)
this is Frank. He came to our house to visit when we were looking to adopt
Me dressed NOT for the weather (it was HOT) but to look cool with Ivy. . . yeah not smart
Comedy- I love this picture she is a cutie

2008-08-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

Syd and Katie after the dog show
HOUNDS!

2008-08-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Ivy and Sandy schmoozing
Ivy and Mojo
the dogs are so great- this set up at the faire is what got us thinking of getting a greyhound
Pretty Syd

2008-08-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

Our local library had a summer program this year to introduce people to letter boxing (we have done this for a few years now :P). Here we are starting out hunting down stamps for a book that they got. When we get 11 stamps they can get a prize and get a chance to win a Wii
Horses hanging out in the second boxes park!
Finding the second box- we found 6 all together this day

2008-08-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

Katie stamps her book
The fairy girls
lettter box hiding in the tree
posing

2008-08-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Nixon Park was the last on the list for letter boxing. There was a storm on the way so we found the box quick!
Marc and the girls with the dark sky!
Finding the box before. . .
Hard to see the rain in these pictures. It was pouring and sunny at the same time. It was beautiful!

2008-08-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

Random cute pictures of the family :)

2008-08-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

Katie's birthday party was at the pool we belong to this year. It stormed on and off but a great time was had by all!

Victory is Mine!!!
Syd

the dark clouds roll back in

2008-08-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

creatures

The party room

We got lots of pictures of gift opening but most looked like a feeding frenzy!

2008-08-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of new pictures up today. If you want to see them all you will need to click on the older posts tag at the bottom of the page! last week we spent the whole week at girl scout day camp. The bus picked us up every day at 8 and brought us home at 4:30. Needless to say I didn't get around to posting till I recovered LOL.

2008-08-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Our troop and another retiring the colors at closing of camp on day 2
Our whole troop (minus the wonderful 8th grade parent assistant, Jordan, who took the photo (so she could avoid being in it :P)

Some of the girls playing at our field trip. Many of the kids in our day camp troop I have known since they were in preschool with Syd! It is a wonderful pleasure to get them for the week and we have a GREAT time!

2008-08-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Yeah, they look silly with the things on their heads but with 16 girls to a group color coding makes headcounts easier!
We went to a place that had an open air bus that took you to a field of animals and you could hand feed them! It was a fun field trip and the girls really enjoyed it (even with the heat being hard to handle that day)

2008-08-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Lots of beautiful animals with hooves :) nothing that could, say, grab a brownie and eat her :P

2008-08-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

They look like a cross between a donkey and a zebra because that's what they are! Zonkies!
The reptile house had more the reptiles. That's a sloth
Croc
porcupine
and to the petting zoo and the baby goats!!

2008-08-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

The spitting camel
Syd and a friend
More baby goats, the place was lousy with them :P
Syd likes creatures, who like her, have hair in their eyes.
Baby bears! -Not in the petting zoo heh!

2008-08-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Momma bear
The next day Critter Bob came to camp (the last day is a special day with games and a cookout too!) I took many pictures of Bob in April so if you wish to see them... he still looks the same HA. So here are just some highlights

Syd helped Bob bring one of the snakes out to the crowd

2008-08-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

Syd and Peanut
and Katie and Peanut
Bob shows me how he rewards Peanut for not biting
MR SNAKES
crab walking for animal charades game

2008-08-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Elephants
change of weather relay race :P

YAY! POOL

2008-08-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

My silly kids wear costumes as often as they can get away with it. Here they are the weekend before camp playing with Ivy

2008-08-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

some pictures of us kicking with the Ivy Girl

2008-07-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

I found this very interesting! It is a link off the website for First State Greyhounds where you can look up your pooch and see the racing career, sibling and other relatives and some even have pictures! Here is our Ivy
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1281141

2008-07-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Friday we picked Syd up from camp. She spent 5 nights there and LOVED it. she can hardly wait to go again next year. She went to a program called princess and pony :)
Sunday the 20th was my "baby" Katie's fifth birthday. Kindergarten, here we come!
What do you mean "why the long face?" I am waiting for cakes!

2008-07-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

This celebration is taking too long to get started!
and I'm getting sleepy!
Katies (pink) 5th birthday cake
Happy Birthday Kay! July 20,2003!
Don't I get cakes?

2008-07-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

Ivy's bed is her favorite place to hang. She is super silly when she sleeps on it.

This one is my favorite. See her sticking out her tongue? LOL

2008-07-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Ivy gets some cuddle time with Kay. I told Kay not to get too close to Ivy's face because, since she is new we don't know if she likes it. Well Ivy kept snuggling closer and closer. She doesn't seem to mind :)
Ivy will just get as close as she can and put her face up on you if you let her :)

Marc getting some Ivy loves

2008-07-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

I still need to get our trip to Cape Cod posted to the blog, however, I couldn't wait to post our new arrival. As many of you know, our dear friend Tonka passed away last Halloween. We still miss her very much but finally started to feel ready to have a new dog in our lives. We began the process to adopt an adult Greyhound from a great organization called First State Greyhound (http://www.firstgreys.org/). We had seen them at the PA renn fair with their beautiful hounds and long before we lost Tonka we had talked about a greyhound being our next dog.

So after we passed the application process and home visit we were lucky enough to be chosen to have Ivy. She is 10 times sweeter then she looks in the pictures and is already well loved. Syd got to meet and spend the day with her, she is away for 5 days at Girl Scout camp this week (I miss her!). But as you will see from the pictures she helped to welcome her new girl first!

2008-07-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

The sign says" its a girl (dog)"

2008-07-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

New bed and toys

Trying out the new diggs
a snuggling picture

2008-07-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

2008-05-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Haven't gotten a chance to post much the last few weeks, school is winding down for the girls, So are scouts and dance classes (but they get more intense first as the girls prepare for their show). I am starting my summer term (eww Algebra). Mothers day weekend was spent in NJ, where we brought our camera but left it in the car unused. We had a great time! The next weekend I went along with Syd's Brownie troop for an over night camping trip.These pictures are from camp Echo Trail :).

The first is not the best picture of Adriane, but I had to post it. She is Syd's Brownie leader and she roxxors! We roasted hotdogs on the fire then later roasted marshmallows for Smores :)
Eating and craft making was undertaken the first night. The girls had the hot dogs, & mac and cheese and then took turns, while one patrol made smores the others (we had 3) decorated dunk bags and made journals as keepsakes of the camping trip.
Sydney the flashlightanater!
Dunk bags drying and bunks being laid out for the night of (no) sleep!
Our girls!

2008-05-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

The final day of the 2008 May Day Fairy Festival! We had the best time we have ever had this year! We helped out a little bit and had a whole lot of good times! Make sure when you get to the bottom of the page to look at the older posts to see the other two days of the festival as well! I posted so many pictures I pushed them right off the page :)

Marc and Peanut the parrot!

2008-05-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

Kay is FIERCE!
Scenes from the tribe ceremony.
A sweet moment between Syd and Posie <3
We are the flowers! We have the Power!! MEADOW!!!!!!MEADOW!!!!!!MEADOW!!!!!!

2008-05-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

The final day's tribal gathering
A neat looking green man

Some lovely costumes....or are they?

Me and my dear friend Robin Greenwood :)

2008-05-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Scary Drow guy. Love IT!
The awesome artist Charles Vess, haven't read Stardust yet? Go buy it, then rent the movie too!

Sydney dancing in the drum circle.

2008-05-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Katie dancing in the drum circle. Too cute!!!

2008-05-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Phantom and Tika have some fun.

Otter is stalked by my children, sorry Otter!

2008-05-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

The second day of the Festival. We headed up Frodo's hill and saw all the sites and sounds.

2008-05-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

The girls hang with critter Bob's snakes

and Her Majesty's Royal Hounds . . .

and then get long socks to keep them warm on this somewhat chilly morning.

2008-05-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

Andrew leads the coronation.
All the tribes gather!

I love this guys costume, he is a really nice guy too!!

Not an attractive photo of me, but I needed one of me holding the banner for the Meadow Tribe!!

2008-05-04T04:50:00.000-07:00

Posie and the Greenman during the ceremony.

Posie (and King Ted who was home sick with a sick Prince :( feel better Shannon! ) were last years Royal family. Today was the day to pass the sword to Queen Meridith and King Adam :)
Syd and Katie get a GREAT hug from the Mossmen to end the 2nd day of the festival.

2008-05-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

The first day of the Annual May Day Fairy Festival! We have become involved with helping at the festival this year, and although with the kids we aren't able to help too too much we are heading to the farm all three days this year to try to help! Day one was GREAT!

2008-05-02T19:51:00.001-07:00

One of the Horses from the equestrian may pole, Posie's Tea Party. Some pretty pictures of our beauties.

2008-05-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

A few really nice pictures of Marc :) One of our favorite Fairy Posie, taken by Kaybear and Thomas and Tika, friends from the farm.

2008-05-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

Some silly moments with Kay . . .

2008-05-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Tag! I'm it!

I was tagged by Keri!!

Four Jobs I've Held:

~ Cashier at a Pharmacy

~ Veterinary Technician

~ Assistant Zoo Keeper

~ Massage Therapist

Four Movies I Could Watch Over & Over:

~ The Princess Bride

~ Lord of the Rings trilogy

~ Almost any Movie directed by Terry Gilliam

~ Monty Pythons- The Holy Grail

Four Places I've Lived:

~ New Jersey (the first 18 years of my life)

~ California

~ Seattle Washington area

~ southern PA

Four TV Shows I Like:

~ Hell's Kitchen

~The Tudors

~ Project Runway

~ I actually have a hard time thinking of any more, it seems I watch mostly movies and things on tv.

Four Favorite Foods:

~ Sushi

~ Pizza (I agree Keri!)

~ Marc's beef Stew

~ anything sweet. Dessert. Pie. Cake. Yummy think I'll have some now :P

Four Places I'd Like To Be:

~ Japan

~ Europe- a tour of castles would be loverly :)

~ Disney

~ Hogwarts. My Syd is a huge Harry Potter fan and I have become one too! We are reading the books and as we finish them we watch the movies. We are more then halfway through 5 now and we are planning a trip to Universal Orlando when the new "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" opens in late 2009/early 2010.

Four People I Tag:
Other then Keri, I don't really frequent any blogs. Other then occasionally going to Andrew Sullivan or Neil Gaiman's blogs (they are somewhat famous people). And I don't know them so they may throw out a restraining order if I tag them :P

~Other

2008-04-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

More fauna pic's. Mrs. Tumnus anyone?

2008-04-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

A preview of Katie in her fauna costume that we made for the Fairy Festival this weekend. All I need to do is attach the tail and a button for the hood :) I'll try and post one for Syd after she gets home from school if we have time :)

2008-04-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were lucky to have a visit from family. Rich, Beth, Jake and Zack (Marc's brothers family :)) were going to sightsee around DC so Marc's Mom and Jeff drove up from NJ and we headed with Uncle Dave down to the National Zoo to meet. We had a great day. The kids love each other (and we live so far away they don't get to spend time together often).

2008-04-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Jake and Zack near the Panda's. Then MOST of the family (poor Marc and Grandma Jo were busy taking the picture and Jeff is just missing LOL!). At lunch the kids goof around. And Syd tests her strength in front of the great ape house.

2008-04-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

The great ape house is one of my favorite parts of the National zoo. OK . . . it smells, but The gorillas are sooooo worth it! If you look in the 2nd picture you can see me and Kay marveling at the gorilla that came over just to sit next to us. She is such a beautiful animal! The 4th one down is an orangutan and the last is a great picture of the cousins all together. We'll miss them!

2008-04-24T11:10:00.001-07:00

Katie cuddles the cat in the first picture and is all dressed up (but still making her war face). It was our day to be the helper at preschool today (it's a co-op) and being T day we had a Tea party where the kids were invited to wear ties and tiaras and bring their Teddy bears. It was great fun and you can see all the kids looked stinking cute!

2008-04-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

The kids and their teddy bears had a busy day

2008-04-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

More of the Tea party. We brought Raspberry Snapple ice tea and cookies and Miss Molly made some brownies. The kids practiced good manners (except for some potty humor from the boys at the end...) and had a terrific time. So did the teddy bears, seen at their own tea party.

2008-04-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Some random pictures one of the girls and one of me (taken by Katie)

2008-04-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

We went to the park on Friday afternoon for a birthday party :)

2008-04-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

It's almost time for the annual Fairy Festival, so we are making some costumes! Katie is wearing my hat (the ears look donkey-ish but would actually be based on a Nubian goat). Me and the kids (HA!) are going as fauna this year.