They're Heeeerrreeeeee.......

     Scott rolled up the driveway with Meagan and Ellie around 11:45 this morning.  Yay!  The three of us were waiting in the front yard.  After some long awaited hugs and a quick tour of the house the kids jumped right into play.  Soon there after we set the kids up with some video games, and Scott Meagan and I went on a run/ride.  Meagan and Scott running, with me along side on the bike.  Scott was glad to have the time to get some fresh air and exercise before the 22 hour flight to Abu Dhabi.  Yes, 22 hours.  14 hours to Turkey with a 4 hour layover before the final 4 hour flight to his final destination.  YUCK.  SAD FACE.  The kids and Meagan and I all had a moment of sympathetic silence for the dads as we slowly lowered ourselves into the hot tub this evening.  Scott on a plane, and Jason in a house in the midst of renovation.  We are hoping to head to the zoo tomorrow.  Just need a good nights sleep under our belts.

Reunited at last!

So hot.  Look at Ethan's face!  The pool is so cold!

They were toasting to Texas beef.

Meagan insisted on cooking.  So I let her... YUM.

Bitter Sweet

So looking forward to Auntie and Ellie's arrival tomorrow!  However, Scott has been summoned to a business trip in Abu Dhabi?!?!  Hence, the "bitter, sweet" of the week.  He will pick my sister and niece up at the airport tomorrow morning, and then head back in the evening to start the long journey to the Middle East.  We had to look on the map to see just how far he was headed.  Scott thought it wasn't much farther than Italy.  I had a feeling he was way off.  And he was.  I would describe it as just a stones throw from Iran.  Ethan is hoping daddy brings him back a camel for an early birthday present.
     Our day was relatively normal, despite Scott's interesting travel destination announcement.  Today the kids needed a multiplication review so I set up a bunch of problems on the floor and had them race across them.  Only moving forward after they yelled the problem and the correct answer.  Anyone walking by the open windows probably thinks we are nuts...and they would be correct.
     Yesterday during our craft hour (Fiona's favorite part of the day) they took some IKEA boxes (because I {With absolutely no help from Scott.  Unless you count funding} have currently assembled 6 dining room chairs, 2 bar stools, 2 office desks, 2 classroom chairs, an outdoor bench seat with a back, and one bench with no back...just sayin') and turned them into "cars" atop the skateboard.
Their ideas were hilarious, and so very different.  Just like they are.

"The Volcano"

"Trojan Horse"

Pre-race jitters.

Pure multiplication confidence.

High fives when all is said and done.

Mmmm... Good Grub.

Scott and I worked really hard, and there is now a room ready and befitting for our guests!  Meagan and Ellie will be the first to try it out.  We are bursting with excitement for their arrival this Friday morning!!!!!!!
     This afternoon the kids were out with their "Backyard Scientific Observation" books, drawing and recording what they could find.  My, oh my!  What a giant grub!  Who knew they could drag them selves around so fast.  Reminded me of a wounded soldier, having lost the use of his legs...trying to escape the hand of the enemy (in this case the prodding from Fiona).  I have a sinking feeling that as the days warm up, there will be no shortage of critters to fill the pages of their books.

Now I just need to start sewing.

Come one, come all!!!

Grubby.

Grubby scientists.

"I'm here, ready to play when you are."

Swim Lessons Anyone?

This past weekend our neighbor invited Fiona and I over to propagate some plant cuttings she took from her house plants.  Ethan took off to play with her son Elliot and a buddy named Thai. (pronounced thigh)  We are hoping that they all take root, which would mean we have a veritable forest of house plants!  Scott also took us on a two hour journey to the bike store that he remembered being just down the street...  The kids got the unforgettable gift of new bikes.  I remember that "new bike" feeling.  Such big smiles!  Last night we sort of paid attention to the Super Bowl.  Kinda boring so we headed to bed.  No Patriots, no excitement.  Then, this afternoon the kids had their third swim lesson.  Such improvement in just these few classes.  I was inspired...Take a look at these pictures.  They capture the beauty of the kids in the water.  And maybe the beauty of Fiona's swim instructor... Just sayin'...

Very pleased with her work.

Ho, hum...Super Bowl.

Fiona, quilling and talking to her plants. Normal.

New bike high!

Lucky duck.

Looks like a man here?!

Punk Ducks

We heard there is a snow-day back in Nahant!  This morning was in the 30's, but no sign of snow.  I find the way to go is to dress in at least 3 layers.  Mornings are cold!  As the day wears on it warms nicely, then hot in the sun.  Today it has warmed over 30 degrees to mid 60's!  I challenged the kids to a nice 4 and a half mile bike ride.  They rose to the challenge!  We stopped along the way to feed the "punk ducks".  Some of these guys have mowhawks!  I also got to try out the new schwinn cruiser we got for when people visit!  It rides like a dream!

Following the sun around the house.

Love this bike!!!

I swear he's smiling...

Not All Bees Make Honey.

The kids and I made some pretty tasty homemade granola bars today.  Main ingredient was honey.  Why?  Because we are doing a science lesson on bees, and in particular honeybees.  There seem to be a lot of beekeepers in the area...so I contacted one.  In a few weeks we are going to his apiary (bee farm) to meet the bees, and watch a beekeeper in action!  So exciting!  Should make for some great pictures too.  He said we will have to wear full bee gear!
     I also took a few pictures of the kids sculpting with the clay/mud from the backyard.  Messy=fun!

Fiona's watercolor lesson.  A girl with bat-wings from a story she is working on.

Ethan's watercolor lesson.  He had fun with the sunset!

Mud manipulators.

Adding the ground flax meal to the granola bars.  Mmmm...

In go the dark chocolate chips!

DMV Time....

We went back to the DMV today, with all the right paperwork this time.  Scott got us in line from home!  Yup, you can put yourself in line over the internet!  The DMV gives you updates as to your wait time over your cell phone!  So upon arrival,  our wait time was about 45 minutes.  Not bad!?  Right?  O.K.  here's what we learned.  There's time, and then there is "DMV time".  Some of us may know folks who run on "DMV time".  I figure one minute equals about 5, however this too is subject to change at any moment with no explanation.  Needless to say, about an hour and a half later we both walked out of there with shiny new temporary Texas licenses.  Oh, random fact.  I asked the license lady what the legal drinking age is here.  Can you believe it is 23?!

New swim goggles.

Their fingers represent snorkles.

There it is.  Good for 6 years!