Dodi's Doings

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Violet's Birthday #3

Happy Birthday Sweet Violet! Violet's 3rd birthday was celebrated at The Wonder Place. I love this place, imaginative fun for the kids, it feels safe for the kids. A quite space for the parents.
Violet had friends and family to celebrate with her. Her present from us didn't come in before the party, so I will have to post Violet's special transportation her later.

Easter 2011

Jackson

Caleb

Jackson's Eggs

Violet

The Hunt

Violet would stop to pose, the rest would not pose for me!

Violet & Phoenix

Evie loves her candy!

Jackson & Tucker

Violet

The Eggs

Caleb

Tucker before the hunt, he was ready to get started!

Evie, Violet, Tucker, Phoenix, Violet, Jackson, Caleb

We had our Easter early because Brad and Paula will be traveling to Tusla on Easter Day. In the past few years, we have had plastic eggs, filled with candy. A friend of mine wrote about dying Easter Eggs, and they did this even when all the children were grown. I decided to have the kids dye eggs this year. I bought and boiled 10 dozen eggs. The had so much fun dying the eggs. The kids stipped down to their undies and tshirts to save their nice clothes from the dye. Good thing, it was messy. Ron actually got in on the fun, read the directions on the dye, and helped the kids dye some vibrant egg colors.
The kids dyed the eggs, then we hid the plastic eggs, that were filled with candy. Ron helped me hide the eggs, Never in all the years are kids were little, did he dye eggs, or hide eggs! I am so glad he is enjoying the grandkids so much.
I was so glad that Brady and Dawn were able to join us and bring Caleb to enjoy the fun!
Easter may be my favorite holiday. All the traditions are centered on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The MOPS group used Resurrection Eggs to tell the story. The first egg had a tiny donkey to teach about Jesus entering Jeruselum on a donkey, each egg told part of the story, the coins, the goblet, until the last egg is empty, like the tomb! The children love the story and what a great visual aid to teach such a powerful story.
The Church has an Easter Egg hunt and activities this Saturday. The choir performed the Easter Cantata this morning, and we still have Easter Morning to go.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Trumpeter Swans

A small private lake in Heber Springs is the winter home to a flock of Trumpeter Swans. I drove up to see them a few weeks ago. The lake was full of swans, ducks, geese and many birds that I didn't even recognize. I am really enjoying bird watching! I have so much to learn about identifying the birds. I have books to help, I bought a CD of bird calls. I guess the older you get the harder it is to learn. I cannot seem to remember the sounds of the bird species. I think that is related to my musical memory, I don't have one! But I am still enjoying the effort to learn more. Now when I am working in the garden, and I hear the birds, I stop what I am doing and really listen to the bird songs. As I get older, I see me spending more time with bird watching than gardening. A serious bird watcher might go hiking to see rare birds, but you can still enjoy bird watching without a lot of physical effort. Gardening is usually pretty physically difficult, I wear myself out. I see my future as taking it a little easier, I will see how I feel after another season of blooms!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Weekend Fun

This was such a beautiful weekend! The weather was so nice. I was able to do a little weeding in my flower beds. We decided to cook burgers and hot dogs for lunch Sunday. Everyone brought over the riding toys for the kids. Jackson and Tucker have a Rip Riper and EZ Rider, those things look fun. Violet and Phoenix brought their riding toys, the Radio Flyer and a 4 wheeler. Steve took the kids riding on the 4 wheeler.
Poppa restored the John Deer tractor that we bought for Jackson when he was two. They have loved riding the tractor again. The girls are trying to learn to drive it without running into the cars, trees, people...
Poppa cooked, then actually played with the kids. He often justs sits on the couch while they play around us.
Poppa pushed Phoenix in his little Radio Flyer, then helped Violet and Evie with their bubbles.
He is also working on his table for the train sets. He has been working every free minute.
Thank you Poppa!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

California Dreaming 2011

Ron and I went on a business trip to California. I had a room booked at a perfectly nice hotel, very rustic and old. Ron saw it, and just as I thought, he was not happy. So we went to The Post Ranch. This place is the nicest place we have ever stayed. The place looks over the Pacific Ocean, from every room, the living room, the bedroom and the bathroom. There is a soaking tub on the patio, and two infinity pools and another pool. There are hiking trails, we saw turkey, deer, hawks. The most exciting was seeing the water spray from the gray whales. We were pretty high on the mountain, so we couldn't see the whales and I could not get a picture! That was so frustrating! Ron and I both saw several spouts sprays. The gray whales migrate in January and February, south to Mexico all the way from Alaska! There migrate farther than any other mammal. In April or so, they migrate back to Alaska, with their babies.

We hiked the trails around the hotel, and saw huge redwood trees. Flowers were blooming early, we saw Monarch butterflies, which also winter at Big Sur!

We drove through Pebble Beach, which actually has several golf courses and a "17 mile drive", we saw all kinds of shorebirds and sea lions.

Clint Eastwood restored a sheep farm, Mission Ranch, we had dinner at the Ranch. They say Clint is often seen dining there, but we did not see him! It was some delicious food though. I think we had fish for every dinner, and artichokes. California has some great food, and some great scenery!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Happy Birthday Jackson

Jackson turned 6 on December 28, 2010. Jackson is our first born grandchild! Veronika is older, but we didn’t have the blessing of knowing her since birth. When Jackson was born, he was the first baby in the family for so long. Ron and I were ready to be grandparents!

I will never forget the day Jackson was born. We had all had a hard Christmas. Amanda had gone to Romania, not getting home in time. We had a ice storm. I was sick. But more than that, his Mommy had been working long hours as a nurse. Jackson arrived almost 4 weeks early!

It didn’t matter if everyone was ready or not, Jackson was ready to start his life! Jackson still has that attitude. Life is exciting and he is ready to get going! He is such an energetic, positive young man! Always ready for new adventures.

This past weekend Poppa took Jackson and Tucker riding on the 4 wheeler. Jackson wanted to go faster and faster! Tucker and Poppa were too cold to keep going.

When Jackson was so little, we were babysitting, I was reading to the boys. Jackson was young enough that he was still learning to talk. Jackson told me, “I love you Dodi”! That was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard! To have a grandchild tell you they love you!

Jackson started kindergarten this year. He seems to be a very smart young boy! And he is very friendly. Jackson was chosen as the “Ambassador” for his class, the child who helps new kids adjust to school.

Jackson became a big brother at a young age, 16 months. He is such a good big brother. He loves Tucker so much. He is sweet to his cousins, actually just sweet to everyone. Now Jackson gets to be a big brother again, where he will actually be a bigger brother. He will have a new baby brother or sister this summer! He is alreay concerned about taking care of another baby! Jackson and Tucker both are going to enjoy having a baby sibling!

You can tell that Jackson is going to be successful at whatever he does. He cares so much about his abilities, whether school work or sports! He wants to do it right! Unless it involves craft work, he doesn't really care about that. I find this really funny, because his Dad didn't really care about fine motor skills either, no coloring or cutting! I am convinced that it is perfectly fine not to color within the lines!

I have taken Jackson, Tucker and Veronika to the Childrens Theater this year! I love having special activities to do with the kids. Jackson has such a great imagination. He comes up with some great stories. His Mom and Dad read novels at night, so Jackson has a very sophisticated literary background!

I love that Jackson is brought to Awana and chapel at East Union. Jackson is learning more Bible scripture than most of us adults know! He has such a sweet heart! He cares about others and he loves Jesus!

We have been blessed to enjoy these years with Jackson.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

2011 Spring Schedule

Last fall I posted about our schedule. We have had a great year, lots of fun, traveling and activities. We didn't make it to a couple of our destinations. I am still waiting for the trip to Mount Magazine. AND, I have added a destination, or two, Spring Pilgrimage at Natchez and Swamp Tours at Beaux Bridges!

We are not getting any younger! Ron would be happy to stay at home every night, every weekend! I feel the need to experience!

I want to visit with my sisters more! I see my grandchildren a lot! But I still want to see them more. I have not gotten to spend one on one time with any of them since last spring. That needs to be one of my goals, but I don't know when to work that in, but I will.

I am very excited about our spring schedule! I hope to add more to it!

Schedule Update 2011

January 29 Sat The Jungle Book

February 4-9 Friday-Wednesday Defense Meeting Big Sur and Monterey CA

February 25-27 Friday-Sunday Arkansas Flower & Garden Show

March 5 Saturday 34th Wedding Anniversary

March 12 Saturday Natchez Spring Pilgrimage???

March 19 Saturday Audubon Spring Pilgrimage???

March 22 Tuesday Phoenix Surgery

March 22-26 Tues-Sun ConAgg Las Vegas

March 11-27 Fri/Sat/Sun If You Give A Pig A Pancake JT&V

March 29- 31 Tues-Thurs The Aluminum Show

April 14 Thrus Fort Belvoir VA??

April 24 Sunday Easter

April Saturday Birthday ??? Violet and/or Tucker

April 29-May 15 Fri/Sat/Sun There’s A Boy In The Girls Bathroom

May 21 Saturday Wedding Clint & Harmony. Sarah & Babysitting Duty

May24- 26 Tues-Thursday Beauty and The Beast

June 4 Saturday Dance Recital Veronika

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Sledding 2011!

We experienced a treat this week, enough snow to go sledding! Ron braved the snowy streets to go to the hardware store to buy some sleds. The neighbors all joined in the fun! They went from house to house looking for the best hill to sled. I believe we will all remember this snow of January 2011!

More Snow 2011

Thomas House

Snow, we didn't measure until the next day, I think there was more the night before!

Fiona

Wish the pool was heated!

Evie

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Snow Day 2011

I counted 6 cardinals in the tree at one time, in addition to all the other birds. They seemed to glow with the snow in the background!

The start of the snow, about 2 pm.

Back across the street, about 4 pm.

This isn't the most clear picture, but it shows how many birds were feeding. I will have to brave the cold in the morning for a refill!

These were all taken from inside the house, with my zoom lens. I read in my "Birds and Bloom" magazine, that you could place your lens against the glass and get some pretty good photos without having to brave the outdoors.