Cat

Pictures of Nana's stray cat-

Update

I guess my Virginia trip can only get me off the hook for so long...looks like it's time to update the blog again!!

We had a nice Mother's Day this past weekend-Matt and the kiddies spoiled me all day long. And I loved it! However there was one bad part to the day-Matthew got a HUGE boo-boo. He and Caitlin had been swimming in their baby pool at Matt's parents house, and was all done. So I wrapped him up nice and tight in a towel...he couldn't even move his arms. We walked up the concrete steps to the house, and then Matthew decided to take the short way back down. By rolling down all four steps on his face ...oh MAN youve never seen something so bad! Luckily there was no need for a hospital trip and all teeth are intact...but the left side of his face was so so so swollen and bruised! Poor baby. However he was brave, and after the initial crying was over, he complained that he was hungry. So that was good :).

Caitlin has her last day of preschool this week, and i think she's really going to miss going over the summer. She's made some friends, and all the teacher's there have decided that she is going to be an artist. She also finished up soccer-so Im going to have to find some new activities for them to do over the summer. Im thinking gymnastics. We'll see though.

Let's see. I have pictures to post from Caitlin's "bike day" at preschool. Matthew got to participate as well, and really enjoyed doing man things with the two other boys in Caitlin's class.

Caitlin on her "big girl bike", which I realized is actually too small for her now! She is growing like crazy!

At "bike day" they had various stations set up where you could stop and play...this one was the doctor's station. Doesn't she look like a pro with that stethoscope?? The future Dr. Caitlin Schroeder perhaps??

At the bike washing station...with a little help from Matthew-

Matthew and one of Caitlin's classmates, with the man tools at the "gas station".

The rest of the trip

We made it home!! And aside from a lovely "10 over" speeding ticket, the ride home was pretty uneventful, and the whole trip was great from start to finish. Seeing all the cousins playing together was so cute!!

After we left Gus and Stephs on wednesday, we drove over to Charlottesville to see Ginny for her 21st birthday-we got to see her lovely apartment, eat out at "the corner", and see the Lawn. Oh, and Caitlin and Matthew's favorite part was riding the UVA bus:

Caitlin and Matthew REALLY liked riding the bus....

Birthday lunch with Aunt Ginny. Matthew says it's always sunny when youre cool.

On the lawn at UVA

After a way too short visit with Gin, we got back on the road to Elizabeth's. We made it there and settled in-Caitlin and Matthew were pretty shy at first, but that wore off very quickly once they saw all the toys that Lauren, Drew, Sophia and Alex were willing to share. Drew taught Matthew all about light sabers, and Star wars. The next day, they resumed playtime in the basement....Unfortunately Lauren had to go to school (FIRST GRADE!!!), so Matthew and Drew played light sabers while Caitlin and Sophia played tea party. Elizabeth and I enjoyed uninterrupted adult conversation...it was GREAT! I want a toy filled basement!

Playing "light sabers". And yes, that is my darling daughter, holding the pretend automatic rifle.

Later that day, we picked Lauren up early from school so that we could all go and visit "Granny" for lunch at the Jefferson. I think we may have overwhelmed the people there a little-three adults and SIX kids...all under the age of 7. However they behaved themselves, and we had a great time visiting with Granny.

At Granny's for lunch

Later that night, it was time to celebrate Alex's first birthday. I think the pictures do a pretty good job of describing the party...Alex thought Mom had made and excellent choice on which plates to use (he kept trying to lick the icing off of Elmo), and thoroughly enjoyed his party:

Before Cake-nice clean sweet baby.

After cake!! Still nice and sweet, just not quite as clean :)

Bathtime and bedtime followed the party, and I think we were all pretty exhausted! However Andy and I discovered a mutual love for icee's, and couldn't go to bed without one. Or a few. mmmm!! The next day, Elizabeth took us out for a fantastic lunch at my new favorite restaurant-it was so nice! We also got to see Aunt Carol while we were there, but i forgot to take pictures...too busy enjoying Clydes!
After lunch it was back on the road to Gus and Steph's. We spent one night there, and then we headed home. It was a great week, and while Im not QUITE ready to do it again, I know that I will do it again!! Hopefully Matt will be able to get some time off next time and come with me!

Good Morning!

It IS a good morning here...the kids (except for Gustav) are all awake and outside on the screened in porch playing their new favorite games. In the first game Callie and Caitlin pretend to be sleeping in the chairs and Matthew wakes them up by yelling something (usually AIRPLANE!!!!!!!!!) as loud as he can. The second game is hide and seek...one of them will hide (always in the same spot) and all the others will run up and yell BOO!!! at them. Yelling seems to be a theme with their games...so nice at 7:00 in the morning :)

Yesterday evening was so nice outside that we let the kids play on Steph's playset till dinner time and they had so much fun...here are some pictures-

We Made It!!

Hooray!!

After a *relatively* easy 6.5 hour drive, the kids and I made it to Roanoke!! I think by the end of the trip they were sick and tired of hearing mommy ask if we were there yet. I heard them whispering something about duct tape for the ride home....

Anyway, its BEAUTIFUL here!! We love Virginia! Gus and Steph's house is so nice-the kids and I felt right at home immediately. Last night we went out for Mexican food (mmmmmmm) and this morning Steph took me to an aerobics class at the place she teaches to work off all the Mexican. Luckily this time I didn't fall and twist my ankle, but i was definitely worn out after the first 5 minutes. And it was an hour long class. (groan) However Steph rewarded us all with a trip to the pool, where Callie and Caitlin (who are now best friends by the way) and Gustav and Matthew all had a wonderful time. (So did Steph and I :))

Anyway, here are some of the pictures from the pool...i'll try to blog pictures as I get them.