Snakes on the Fidlins!!

We took the kids to the Children's Museum today. Didn't know that the Fox Valley Herp Club was going to be there. We got to hold all sorts of slithery beasts! Check out the size of the yellow snake. It's HUGE!! Even Noah held one of the snakes. (Photo of Noah's hands holding a smaller snake)

In addition to the snakes, we had fun playing and seeing the LEGO exhibit The Art of the Brick. Amazing what that guy can make out of LEGOS!!

Happy Adoption Day!!

Tomie dePaola

Because of my obsession with children's books and authors, tonight I took the kids to meet children's author and illustrator, Tomie dePaola. He was visiting a local bookstore as a part of his book tour for his new book Front Porch Tales and North Country Whoppers. He read a story from the book and then signed books for his fans. What a great artist he is! Yeah Tomie!!

First Haircut

Well, it only took about two minutes, but we had Emma's haircut for the first time last week Friday. I wanted to have the back evened out a bit so it wasn't quite so crazy looking. For some reason, I thought that having it trimmed up a bit, it would help Emma not look like a crazy woman when her hair is out of her "pigs" or "ponies". Well, having the back trimmed didn't really help the long bangs that hang down past her nose, when her hair is down. Oh well, it was still fun getting it trimmed....and for a small price of $13.00, she got to sit on a horse for her haircut, got a little baggie for her first "hair", a certificate with her photo AND a bottle of Paul Mitchell Baby Shampoo....what more could you want? Daddy thought it was quite the rip off! But.....she's so cute....it's all worth it, right?

Trick or Treat!

Steve rounded up Cowboy Caleb and Mad Scientist Noah after school to do the annual neighborhood trick or treating after school today. Miss Ladybug Emma and I stayed home to hand out treats at our house. Emma had fun grabbing handfuls of treats out of the bowl each time someone came to the door. After collecting their loot, the kids had fun sorting through their heap of candy!

My Daddy is Mr. Money Bags!

Emma discovered Daddy's wallet on Friday night. Wonder how often this will happen when she gets to be a teenager. Daddy's love their little girls!

Cruel Parents Without Hearts!

Waiting to get my ears pierced.

Well, we did it. We had Emma's ear's pierced on Saturday. We took her to Claires at the mall. The store is located next to the Northwoods Cafe and, of course, the piercing station is at the enterance to the store. Sooooo, the whole Cafe could hear Emma screaming while we held her still. She hates being held onto. It's funny because that is the worse part for her when she gets shots. As soon as they are done and she can be "on the go" again, she's fine. Well, as you can see from the photos, I tried holding her (because Daddy was a little chicken), but she was to wiggly, so then Daddy held her while they pierced them. As you can see, it was just as hard on Daddy as it was on Emma. She cried for about 5 minutes afterwards and then acted like nothing ever happened. Steve only cried for a few minutes. The worst part of the whole thing is that an older woman walked past during the screaming and she said "Oh, I just wouldn't have the heart to do that to my child". I say, "Poooey on you" (because that is just the Christian thing to say).....she's just fine. She hasn't touched them at all and doesn't even mind when I turn them or clean them for her. And, she looks so darn cute. We're hoping that this is the only part of her body she will have pierced!!

Daddy is scared, too!!

Sleeping like a little angel...with pierced ears!!

Meeting Jan Brett

On Tuesday, famous children's author and illustrator, Jan Brett, came to visit the Appleton Public Library. She did a demonstration of her artwork and spoke for a few minutes and then did a book signing. Being the teacher mom I am, I pulled the boys from school a half hour early so we could get in line to get our ticket for having a book signed. We were number 70 of about 200 people!! Jan's artwork is amazing!! She has such vivid details.

This was the fourth author Noah has met. He went down to Milwaukee last fall to meet Lemony Snickett and last year at the Young Author's Conference (also in Milwaukee) he met Nancy Carlson and Sneed Collard.

Enjoy the photos!

Cheerios Disaster and Pizza Spaghetti "Emma" Style

OK...I finally feel like I am getting caught up on this blog thing. It's been tough keeping up with it since school started. Here are some photos of Emma's Cheerio Disaster and her enjoying Grandma Fidlin's "Pizza Spaghetti Style" dish, which we could rename "Pizza Spaghetti 'Emma' Style"! Enjoy!