Pink Extravaganza!

This fall, Heathens #2 and #3 traded karate for gymnastics.  Still lots of flexibility and burning lots of energy.  In the end, it is only the energy burning that I care about!  Whatever makes them sleep at night - I will support!

My Heathens have been attending TNT Gymnastics in Richland - and they are LOVING it.  In October, the gym had an exhibition to raise money for breast cancer, called the Pink Extravaganza.  My Heathens participated!

Walking out at the beginning and waving to the crowd.  Can
you tell which of the Heathens was a bit intimidated by the crowd?

Heathen #3 is back on the rings, while
Heathen #2 is on the bars.

Heathen #2.

Heathen #3 posed for the photo and
even smiled!

Heathen #2 works on his upper body strength on the horse.
Heathen #3 lays on the mats waiting his turn.

Heathen #2 on the uneven bars.

Heathen #2 gets his participation
medal from Ms. Jean.

Heathen #3 gets his participation medal
from Ms. Jean.

Scarecrow Invitational

Heathen #1 recently had his first invitational swim meet of the year.  After being OUT of the water for two years, he decided to rejoin the local YMCA team again this year.  He swam in three events - and placed in TWO of them!

Heathen #1 placed 7th in the 100 yd freestyle (1:14.49) and he placed 4th in the 100 yd backstroke (1:36.03)

Way to go, Heathen!

Halloween - finally!

Obviously, I'm a little behind schedule of my blogging.  It's been a little crazier than normal at the Zoo!

Heathen #2 actually had three costumes for Halloween this year.  Two of the costumes, he made himself!

The Duct Tape costume - that turned
out to be REALLY hot to wear.

The Claw Machine costume - he
has a sock monkey hat on his head.

 The third costume was a vampire outfit that we purchased as a backup to his Halloween creations.  It never made it out of the house.

Heathen #3 went as Harry Potter.  He looked adorable!

He even had the scar!

I'm smiling!  Now can I
go beg for candy?

 Heathen #1 went as Sam Flynn from Tron.  Amazingly, I could NOT locate a costume (even online) that actually lit up.  So Heathen #1 and the Asst. Zookeeper (bless his little electrician heart) added LED lights to his costume!

He actually GLOWED in the dark!

 As always, we Trick-or-Treated with the cousins!  It's great to be able to split into groups based on child-speed and leg-length.  Here were the other costumes:

Skinny Minnie

Gertrude

Noah Logan

Meatball

Ili Grace

The kids all brought home a TON of candy and had a great time!

Hippo Eggs

Today, the Heathens woke early (only by FORCE) to attend Heathen #1's swim meet.  To their utter delight (and my HORROR), it was snowing.  AND it was STICKING!

By the time we made it out of the swim meet, there was approximately 6 inches of snow.  On the way home, I had to stop and take some photos on Ligonier Mountain.

Taken at summit on Route 271.

Taken at summit on Route 271.

Taken at summit on Route 271.

Taken at Laurel Highlands trailhead on Route 271.

Taken at Laurel Highlands trailhead on Route 271.

Taken at Laurel Highlands trailhead on Route 271.

The snow was gorgeous, white, and clean.  Despite the whining of the tired Heathens, I snapped a lot of photos.  These were my favorites.

But that isn't the good part of today...  THAT would be too NORMAL.  And we all know that NORMAL and ZOO go together like water and oil....

After arriving home, the younger two Heathens played outside in the snow.  I know, SHOCKING!

Heathen #3 informed me of what they made in the snow after I mistakenly asked about the snowmen in our yard.  There were 4 "figures" in our yard.  I was informed that only 2 of the 4 were snowmen.

The other two were a "hippo and a hippo egg."  Really?

And when I was then STUPID enough to guess which snow lump was what, I was informed.

THIS is the hippo!

THIS is the hippo egg.  Can't you tell?

HOW could I have not known?  What kind of mother am I?  On the way back into the house, I promised to pay more attention instead of "just guessing" because I was not a very good "guesser."

I responded with an apologetic sounding, "Yes, sir." and headed into the house.

Halloween Challenge

Last night was the annual Halloween parade in town.  And we had BEAUTIFUL weather.  The Heathens and I, along with the Grandma, headed down town a bit early so that we could find a good spot to watch the festivities.

Only arriving about 15 minutes before start time, we were able to find a spot big enough for the five of us to all see well.  Grandma took a blanket for the Heathens to sit on.  She sat just behind us in a chair.

As the parade was starting, a woman walked up behind us with 5 kids.  One of the kids stepped right infront of Grandma.  Grandma nicely asked her to move.  The woman got NASTY!  I heard my mother-in-law.  She was polite when she asked the girl to move.  The woman accused the Grandma of using a nasty tone of voice!  Wow.  Okay, lady.

Then the women told all of her children to sit INFRONT of my children.  So I told her that my kids weren't able to see.  And I got the "look of death."  So she moved them to our left and put them in front of other people. 

As the parade started, my Heathens sat forward onto their knees because the woman's kids were practically out in the street blocking their view.  Behind us, in comes two women with a stroller and a toddler and pushed the stroller ONTO the blanket where my kids are sitting.  Then they start telling this toddler to "git out there" to get them some candy!

I asked them to move the stroller so that I could get the blanket out from under it.  And SHE YELLED AT ME!  That my kids weren't even sitting on the blanket and I had NO RIGHT to have it there.  It was a FREE COUNTRY and she could do whatever she wanted.  I commented that it was obviously a free country and she was free to be as ignorant and rude as she wanted.  (At this point, I was fed up.  But I will admit, I should have just kept my mouth shut.)

She asked me if I wanted to "go at it" after the parade!  Really? Are we in middle school?

At this point, Heathen #2 was crying because his mother and his grandmother are going to get beat up.  And Heathen #1 is offering to "take her" for me.  Heathen #3 was oblivious in his quest to get candy from the parade people.

As the parade continued, these women continued to push this toddler into the street to get them candy!  He MIGHT have been two.  It was ridiculous!  And then, one of the women (who was about my age) went up to the curb, held out her hand, and started asking the parade people for candy for HER!

Really?

Next year, I hope it's cold and snowy for the parade.  The crazy people will stay home!

Things You Find in Kids' Packets...

This past weekend, while in New Jersey for my sister's wedding, we went to Chili's to eat for lunch.  We took the 3 Heathens, my brother and his wife, and their son.

At Chili's, the kids' menus came in a plastic cup with crayons and some flyers.  Heathen #3 spent his time filling them out.  After attempting his middle name, and spelling it incorrectly, he passed me the flyer with the mistake.

Handed to me by Heathen #3 at Chili's.  He's never had to
spell his middle name often enough to get it right.  We now practice.

I slid the flyer out of the way as the waitress brought drinks.  In the process of shuffling things on the table, the flyer was flipped over.  And this is what I see:

The back of Heathen #3's flyer - that was handed
out with the KIDS' MENUS!

Thank goodness Heathen #3 didn't see it as he has learned to read.  I can just HEAR him sounding it out!

Like any other good mother, I quickly showed it to ALL the adults at the table.  Then I folded it up to bring home and add to the Zoo's blog of antics.  Is it safe for me to go anywhere?

Wedding Aftermath

We survived the wedding.  Despite the crazy New Jersey traffic, extended time in the car and with family, etc., we survived.

Did I mention I broke my ankle?  At my sister's reception, BEFORE drinking anything.  That is true talent.

While sitting in my chair at the dinner table, somehow I managed to get the heel of my shoe tangled in my dress.  The dresses were floor-length (or almost considering that I was the Amazon again).

Not realizing that my shoe was tangled in my dress, I attempted to stand up quickly and chase after a Heathen.  He wasn't in trouble.  I was being silly and teasing him.  It didn't go well - and I ended up on the floor.

The ankle did the usual, lovely swelling and bruising.  I borrowed my mother's slippers to wear home from New Jersey as none of my shoes would do.

Last night, a few of my toes were taking turns going numb.  The Asst. Zookeeper said, "Get it checked."  I said, "Yes, sir."  (Stop snorting.  I do occassionally show the man some respect.  Just not often.)

I stopped between classes today to have it x-rayed.  Told the doctor what happened.  He said, "We'll send you for an x-ray and then we'll call you if we see anything.  You don't have to wait while we read the film."

Then I showed him my ankle.  He said, "You need to wait here while we have that read."  Then he put me in one of these contraptions:

Did I mention I was in EBENSBURG and had to drive home in this thing!  Thank heavens for light traffic. 

I think when I'm all done wearing this thing, I'll sign it and give it to my sister as a belated-wedding present.  :)