Sunday, January 23, 2011

October - December 2010

October was lots of fun for us; we had four different opportunities to trick-or-treat. We went to the Zoo-Boo at the Indianapolis Zoo, then the next weekend to the Zoo-Boo at the Columbian Park Zoo, then we got to do the downtown trick-or-treat, and finally the traditional Halloween trick-or-treat in our neighborhood. Don't worry, Mom and Dad helped us ration our candy so it lasted past Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, right before Zoo-Boo here, Dad dropped our camera. Thankfully, Grandma was visiting and she had her camera. We didn't get any pictures for November or at Thanksgiving, because our camera was still out of service. For Christmas, we visited with Granny and Grandpa, so they took pictures for us. There was plenty of snow, and we went sledding at the same park where Daddy used to sled at when he was our age. We even got to use some of his old sleds! Right before New Year's we flew out to see Grandma F and Grandpa B, and they took more pictures. Don't worry, Mom and Dad got a new camera in January, so we'll be set for the future.

Jack and Anna learned how to use the timer on the (old) camera

Just checking things out

ready to slide

Mom, Ladybug (Kate), Superman (Jack) and Snow White (Anna) at the Indianapolis Zoo

Trick or treating at the zoo

Snow White races a cheetah
(Snow White is fast, but the cheetah always wins)

Wolverine (Jack) and Laura Ingalls (Anna) - You didn't think we wore the same costume all four trick-or-treat times, did you?

Jack and Jack-o-Lantern

The Christmas Angel

young train engineers

Kate making a point

"No! Me open!"

2010 will be known as the year of the Naked Christmas

downhill with Daddy

Jack zooms downhill on the Flexible Flier

Kate rides the tiger sled with some help from Mom
(Kate's great-grandfather built the tiger sled for Dad around 1970)

Junior Entomologist (there may be a theme here)

Kate checking out the train display at the Botanical Gardens

¡el sapo grande!

family picture at the Tucson Botanical Garden

this song is for Elise
(note: caption is Dad's attempt at a bad Beethoven pun)

We did mention that this year was the naked Christmas, didn't we?

The obligatory, traditional picture at the Reid Park Zoo peacock.

Friday, October 15, 2010

July - September 2010

We are really behind in updating the blogspot site. Back when it was still summer, we kept busy with lots of different things including a trip out to the Great Plains to see our relatives in South Dakota and Nebraska. One day while we were outside in our yard, we heard a really loud airplane and looked up to see a B-17 bomber. It visited the airport here, so we went over with Dad to check it out (Kate was napping). We also got to run in the Zoo Run Run.

Under the nose art for Aluminum Overcast (the EAA's touring B-17)

The landing gear tires are as big as we are.

Before the start of the Zoo Run Run kids race

Jack's strong finish
(note the cheering section in front of the trailer)

Anna's finishing kick

Kate at a family picnic in South Dakota

Anna at the picnic

All the ladies

Chillin' with Great-grandpa

Buggy and pony rides at the Ingalls' Homestead

Howdy, Pardn'r

Anna drives the covered wagon

Jack's turn at the reins

Jack volunteers to help the teacher, only to find out she wants to demonstrate what happens to boys who cause trouble (Jack's nose is on the spot drawn on the chalkboard)

At the prairie school

riding back from school

Kate on the wagon

buckets and hoses are made for getting children wet

Jack on the bridge

Anna at the park

story time

twisty slide at the Henderson playground

a visit to Columbian Park Zoo

Kate has found a "ginormous" caterpillar

interacting with the petting zoo goats

"my bubberfy"

Sunday, July 4, 2010

April - June 2010

Spring finally arrived here in Indiana, and we enjoyed lots of fun activities. We went to the Purdue Spring Fest this year, where we got to meet cool insects and spiders, take a pony ride, try the John Deere pedal tractor course, build our own rockets, and drive electric cars. Anna and Jack got new bicycles, and Mom got a bicycle and attached a special seat for Kate. Kevin and Ruth and their family hosted us for a trip to Vermont. We also visited Granny and Grandpa in May and again in June; during the June visit, Jack and Anna got to run in their first road race!

the new bikes

Anna on the pony ride

Kate on the pony ride

Jack meets the tarantula

pedal tractor

a little help

Anna's rocket

crazy balloon hat

butterfly face paint

Jack driving the electric truck

Granny bought a special cupcake - just for me!

zonked out after visiting Granny and Grandpa
(we assume they did the same thing after we left)

Anna contemplative

We had pizza for dinner!

reading with Kevin

Jack smiling

Ruth and Kate and a really big shoe

Kate at Hildene

Smores are a family favorite

at the finish of the Kid's blast (Dad had run earlier)
(photo from Grandpa Guy)