Dennis the Menace

For Columbus weekend, I was dying to get out of town. Chris heard how much fun I was planning in Monterey for me and the kids, and decided to come home for the weekend and tag along. It was so nice to have him with us, to relax on our mini vacation! As usual, we stopped to play at the Dennis the Menace Park for a little while every day.

We found out that Matthew REALLY likes slides.

Clara on the 'zipline'

Matthew giving it a try

On the slide

Did I mention he REALLY likes slides?!

He even tried to climb back up them!

Apparently, he's not the only one who likes slides.

Sliding with Mommy

That was fun!

Jonathan's turn!

The race is on!

Walking across the suspension bridge with Mommy

The 'Fast Slide'

On the 'zipline' with Daddy

Matthew thought this was pretty hilarious

Climbing

'Wait up!'

Mountain climbing

Who doesn't like the roller slide?

Matthew and Daddy

It's a race!

...and a tie!

Clara's new hat

Going through the maze

Daddy and Matthew going through the maze too

Pole Dancing!

'Umm, Dad, I don't think guys are supposed to do this!'

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'...

Whoa!

Daddy found another pole to swing on

'Come and get it!!!!'

One last slide

Dennis the Menace

Cheer Pictures

The cheer season ends this weekend. We will not be attending the last game (along with half the squad) since the sports director so wisely planned to hold the flag football tournament on Columbus Day weekend. We'll be heading to Monterey with Chris, for some much needed family time. Clara received her trophy and pics early, since we won't be there tomorrow. Her pics turned out great!

Quite the cheerleader!

The squad.

Clara enjoyed cheer and would like to do it again, but I want to take a break in the hopes that next time she cheers she will be in the next age bracket, decreasing the possibility of getting the same 'coach' (I use that term loosely). I had issues with her from the teaching of inappropriate cheers for this age group, attitude when I said something about it, to the way she spoke to and manhandled the girls. Her lack of organization was second to only her laziness. There's nothing like piling 3 kids in the van to go to a 45 minute practice, only to have the coach call practice after about 15 minutes, because she just isn't into it. I am most definitely ready to see the end of this cheer season. Hoping to be able to hold Clara off for a good 6 months before trying it again!

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Nothing like a Base-wide power outage from 5am-6pm to make you want to go outdoors...to the zoo! There was a planned power outage on Thursday for maintenance, and since Clara's school is here on base, that meant she had the day off from school as well. So we headed to the zoo with some friends.

Bella, Madison, Jonathan, Jackson, Clara

Their best 'flammymingo' impersonations

Sea lions

Jonathan's checking in on the sea lions

Good thing mine aren't 6ft tall when they're born!

Petting Stingrays

Even Matthew tried to pet one

Stingrays

'I love you thiiiiisssss much'

My 3 monkeys!

Clara and Jonathan

Goats in the petting zoo

Making him pretty!

Telling secrets

Must've been a good Joke!

Riding the baby elephant

Jonathan Tiger

Giraffe

Clara feeding the giraffe

'My what a big tongue you have!'

The only way to feed a giraffe is to stick out your tongue too!

Yum!

The tiger was actually awake this time!

Watching the Orangutans and Chimpanzees

Clara on the Orangutan

Jonathan hugging the Orangutan

Even the wolves were out, and they began to howl!

The new male wolf. The person observing the wolves was extremely excited to see him howling, because it meant he was finally getting used to his new home and ready to take his place as Alpha dog, rather than continuing to let the female dominate.

Digging for dinosaur bones

Uncovering a dinosaur skull with Madison

Jonathan found some dinosaur eggs

A Stegosaurus plate

A great day a the zoo with friends, ending with dinner at Chick-fil-A. We got home just after power was restored! It doesn't get much better!

Along Came a Spider

Look what Jonathan made in Preschool today...

That spider isn't so scary!

Home Depot

It's Fire Safety Awareness Week, and time for the Home Depot clinic, too.

We got there kinda late, and they had run out of Fire boats, so Jonathan and I built a school bus pencil holder.

Clara got the last Fire boat. Here she is putting on the finishing touches (stickers). For the record, Clara has recently taken to fixing her own hair on the weekends, I usually try to hold back the control freak in me, and let it go...It's hard though!

Jonathan was helping her out!

The finished product!

Little Foot

This is how I found Matthew when I woke him up from his nap today...

...Sleeping Sideways...

I LOVE his little feet!!!!!

1st Grade Pic, Take 1

Clara got her 1st grade pics back today. They turned out very cute, except very dark. This one only doesn't seem so bad because I lightened it myself after scanning it in. Figuring I have nothing to lose with this one scanned in, I sent Clara's packet back for her to have it retaken, in a brighter outfit. Let's see if I should have left well enough alone!