nap time

 We've had a lot of good naps around here lately.

claire swims

I realized this year that Claire is a really good swimmer.  Not just in free style, but all of the strokes.  This was her third year on the swim team (her brothers did not swim this year-made me sad-also great swimmers).  This year she really figured out butterfly (I am still trying to figure it out) and does a beautiful and fast stroke.  I enjoyed watching her swim and I also enjoyed how she would meet people from the other team (as they waited to race).  "Jane said she is going to the beach next week," "who?" "oh, this girl I met from the other team."  I love Claire and her swimming and her friendliness. 

climbing kids

The boys have added another new feature to our work-out room.  First Allen, Carter and Jared built the peg board (on right); now they have added a climbing wall.  It's been a fun addition for everyone.  I love that this is something that Allen has been able to do with his boys.  They love to design and build things together.  And then play on them.

Carter's obsessions

Carter and his obsessions.  He has had many.  Now that he is older, he is finally following through with his grand ideas.  His latest:  Uncle Maddio's Pizza.  It just opened across the way from us.  For some unknown reason Carter became obsessed with it while we waited for it to open.  He was on their Facebook page almost daily the last month or so trying to find out when exactly they were opening.  Why, do you ask? Because he he got the idea in his head that he needed to be the first customer.  Then he started talking about it obsessively to his friends and got some takers.  By May they had decided that they were going to camp out the night before to make sure they would be the first in line.  They also agreed that Carter would be the first in line because he was the ring leader.  We tried to explain to Carter that this wasn't something you camped out for.  The week of the grand opening none of the boy's parents were willing to camp out with them somewhere where we were pretty sure they wouldn't actually be allowed.  Allen and I compromised and said they could "camp out" at our place and walk over the next morning.  And so they did.  They headed over at 9am for a 11am opening.  As it turns out the pizza place was giving away free pizza's from 11-2, so there was a line and sure enough the boys were first, with Carter at the front, proud as can be.  The pizza place loved them and their enthusiasm and posted pictures of them on their Facebook page.  Here are some pictures from the fun day:

heading off in the morning

they were there about an hour before the next people showed up

first in line!

enjoying their free pizza

Carter has a knack of getting others caught up in his excitement.  A few years ago he and a friend came up with USPU (United States Parkour University)-because Carter was currently obsessed with Parkour and soon he made a website- uspu.webs.com.  (I'll let you check it out if you care-it hasn't been touched in over a year).  He also designed a t-shirt.  This was a long process because Carter has trouble making decisions and he had lots of input from lots of friends with all different opinions.  Allen and I just sat back and let him figure it all out himself.  He did it all-designed the shirt, took orders from friends, collected money and distributed the shirts (I think he ended up ordering 30 shirts).  Two years later I still see kids wearing that shirt and all 8th graders use the acronym USPU (us poo) in conversation like it's as common as IKEA.

So, my question is...how does Carter translate this talent for obsessing about things (and getting others to get on board with his ideas) into a career later in life?  What job is best fit for this?

Jared even bought one

my shadows

The other day when I was on Allen's computer posting about our Philly trip, I turned around to leave and saw this:

My two sweet boys waiting for me to finish.  They are my little shadows.  They follow me around and hang out while I do my thing and then follow me to the next project. I took a picture because normally they aren't so perfectly in line, laying the same way.  I thought it was adorable.  I think they are adorable.

philly

Allen took his staff to Philadelphia for the annual AAO meeting.  It was a great city that we enjoyed for a long weekend.  First, there was the history:

 Independence Hall was impressive.  We really enjoyed hearing about how history was made when those brave men signed the Declaration of Independence-so inspiring.  The Liberty Bell was not as big as we expected, but still neat to see.

 Second there was the food:

 We went out the first night to find the "best philly cheese steak sandwich".  It wasn't so good.  A little dry and plain for my taste.  We ate breakfast every morning at the old Reading Railroad (yes, from Monopoly) that is now a huge market of yummy foods like smoothies and juices, crepes, ice cream and a few Amish restaurants that were very yummy.  One had an apple dumpling that melted in your mouth, another had doughnuts that yes, melted in your mouth.


Third there was Rocky and Love:

 So funny, at any given time you could see 2-4 middle aged men running up these steps with their wives in tow taking pictures.  But you have to do it, right?  Well, Allen had to.

 The Love sign was also much smaller than we expected.  But it made for a cute picture.

claire happenings

What's Claire been up to, you ask?

showing off her bars skills

serving pancakes at the swim team fundraiser

had a piano recital with cousins

and found some time to cuddle with Max