kids | The Zimmer Zoo

Friday’s Fotos: Tanned, Tomatoes, and Baseball

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Nancy

While changing Logan out of his swimsuit and into shorts, I just couldn’t get over his tan line! He definitely didn’t get his mom’s pasty skin…

Logan's tushy

We got our first tomatoes today! And these aren’t from either garden…they’re the ones that sprung up from where we had them last year … apparently, a tomato escaped and rotted into the ground to provide us with two more plants this year. Yeah! 🙂

First Tomatoes of the Year

Burke and Maggie got their first baseball gloves yesterday!

Burke's New Baseball Glove

Maggie’s is pink and purple (See? You can be girly and sporty!).

Maggie's New Girly Baseball Glove

Filed under: FFFF, garden, kids | Tagged: baseball glove, girly, girly baseball glove, tan lines, tomatoes | Leave a comment »

Reading to My Kids – Book Review: Magic Tree House Series

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Nancy

When we went to Vermont, my goal was to bring a Ramona book with us to read a chapter or so to the kids each night before bed. (They’re used to made-up stories from Mike…I’m just not that creative!)

I forgot to bring the book.

Step in Uncle Jason. He brought a book over (without knowing what my goal was) saying that Cousin Grey really likes the series, had we heard of it? I hadn’t, but I’m SO GLAD that he introduced us to it!

I’ve heard that The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne currently has about 45 books it it. (Yikes!) And I hear that she’s still writing. So we should be set for a while!

The first in the series is called Dinosaurs Before Dark. This one is the must-read since it sets up the whole series. In a nutshell: Annie and Jack find a magical tree house. It’s full of books that transport them to places when they make a wish on a picture in a book. For example, in the first book, Jack opens a book in the tree house and sees a dinosaur. He wishes he could see one in real life and Viola … he does.

We read this over 3 or 4 nights while in Vermont. Two to three chapters a night. And the kids couldn’t get enough. They begged for me to buy the book so we could have it at home – not realizing that there are more in the series and they could have new adventures with Annie and Jack. I hopped onto ebay and did my thing…we now have 15 of these books (mostly in order…)

We started reading the second one, The Knight at Dawn, a few days ago. Since we’re home now – and nothing compares to Daddy’s bed time stories – I’m reading to them before Daddy gets home from work…and they’re choosing another chapter over turning the TV on (be still my beating heart!)

Other than my kids really enjoying these books, the thing *I* like about them is that there’s an actual plot. It’s much better (for me) than reading the same silly little book over and over (not that there’s anything wrong with That’s Not My Princess…), and I’m finding that I want to know what’s going to happen next too!

Thank you, Ms. Osborne, for writing such wonderful stories for my whole family to enjoy!

Filed under: kids, reviews | Tagged: books, Dinosaurs Before Dark, elementary chapter books, Kindergarten chapter books, Magic Tree House, Mary Pope Osborne, The Knight at Dawn | 3 Comments »

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Nancy

Maggie’s thoughts of Makeup Gym classes got me to thinking that I haven’t posted many kiddo conversations lately. Here’s a dose of the latest.

Logan to Mommy: “You’re single cuz *I’m* married to daddy.”

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Burke: “Will Maggie and I still be twins if we don’t have the same teacher next year?”

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Maggie to Daddy: “You crazy old man!”
(LOL!)

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Burke: “Daddy, did your mommy name you ‘Daddy’?”

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Burke to Maggie: “I will eat you!”
Maggie to Burke: “Please don’t; I am a good guy.”

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Logan (somewhat remorseful): “I ate a kid.”
After biting a playmate at EI playgroup.

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Burke to Mommy: “Your coffee smells like it was sprayed by a skunk.”
Not quite how I’d describe Creme Caramel…

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Maggie (singing): “Follow the Elephant Row, Follow the Elephant Row.”
Pretty sure that’s supposed to be ‘Yellow Brick Road’ …

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Logan: “Daaadddddy! Daddddddy!!”
Daddy (after walking upstairs): “Yes, Logan?”
Logan: “I want Mommy.”

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Logan: “Mommmmmy! Mommmmy!!”
Anyone (thinking they’re being helpful when I’m busy): “What do you want, Logan?”
Logan: “I want Mommy.”

Filed under: kids | Tagged: funny, kid conversations | Leave a comment »

Makes My Monday: Jammies Outside

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Nancy

Mike and the kids are playing a rousing game of Freeze Ball (a cross between freeze tag and dodge ball)…in their jammies! (Well, Mike’s not in his…)

A few weeks ago, Mike pointed and said “Hey look! Elvis!” to distract them. They have no idea who Elvis is, and until yesterday, tried the same tactic …except it came out, “Hey look! Goldfish!” tee hee

Freeze Ball, Jammies, and Elvis – all rolled into one – Makes My Monday.

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Head on over to see what else makes people’s Mondays (there are always some really good ones!)

Filed under: kids, MMM | Tagged: Elvis, freeze ball, freeze tag, goldfish, Jammies, PJs | 2 Comments »

Makes My Monday: Vacation Bible School Bliss

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Nancy

Burke and Maggie started Vacation Bible School this week. This is their second year doing it, but Burke was still a bit apprehensive about things and wasn’t sure he wanted to go. (Logan volunteered to take his place LOL! –ooh, side note about Logan below–)

I reminded him about how much fun he’d had last year and showed him a picture that was taken (still on our fridge LOL!), and he finally got into it. *phew*

Remember how I’d just switched churches last year? And I had gotten the stink eye from some of the members of our former church? I also didn’t know very many people, so I didn’t really feel as though I belonged (which is stupid, I have just as much of a right to be there as anyone else…it’s open to the entire community.) Anyway…this year is SO.MUCH.DIFFERENT! The same person who was unfriendly last year was welcoming (even remembered my name!) and helpful this year. And I’ve gotten to know so many more people in the community that I was saying “Hi!” to people left and right and people were waving at me…I’m absolutely giddy that we’re home.

And to top it all off, Burke and Maggie had a blast and both of them can’t wait to go again tomorrow.

My entire Monday is Made.

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Head on over to see what else makes people’s Mondays (there are always some really good ones!)

Side note about Logan: Logan attended Sunday School for the first time yesterday! When the children’s time arrived and the kids go to the front of the church, Maggie bolted (typical), Burke revolted (also typical), and Logan tried going up (not as typical). I told him that I wasn’t comfortable with him going up right now…did he want to go play in the nursery? Na. Did he want to go to Sunday School? YEAH!!! So I told him we’d ask. Since it’s the summer, the class is 3 year olds through Kindergarten, so he’d be in Maggie’s class (Burke still isn’t going down…)

So I took all 3 kids down and told the teacher that Logan was going to be 3 in September, but that he was asking to go to Sunday School…so would it be all right if he came..? She said “SURE!” Logan plopped right down in the circle (while Burke clung to my legs) and proudly proclaimed his name when it came around to his turn. When I left to go back to the service, Logan was just fine. (Burke came back up with me.) Burke claims that he’ll try to stay down there next time…he was surprised (and I think a little envious) when Logan came out with the project they’d done LOL!

Filed under: kids, me, MMM | Tagged: community, sunday school, vacation bible school, vbs | 1 Comment »

Friday’s Fotos: More Carnival and Goofy Logan

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Nancy

Mike took some pictures while inside the Dizzy Dragon ride at the carnival last week:

Logan

Uncle Jason and Maggie

Cousin Grey and Burke

Maggie

Logan and Nanny Jessica have a lot of fun together when Burke and Maggie are at their gym class:

The Rockin' Lumberjack

Air Guitar?

Filed under: FFFF, kids | Tagged: air guitar, carnival, dizzy dragon, lumberjack | Leave a comment »

Friday’s Fotos and Paci-B-Gone

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Nancy

Logan went to his first dental appointment last Tuesday. He was AWESOME. In fact, Dr. Dentist commented that he wished the rest of his patients for the day would be as good as Logan was. And he told Logan that he needed to demonstrate for all of the other first-timers how it should be done 😉 (Go Logan!!)

His teeth are fine…but Dr. Dentist asked if he was a thumb sucker or a pacifier user. Uhm…dang. you can tell?! Ya…Logan still uses a paci at night. Dr. Dentist casually mentioned that he needs to transition away from that. He even suggested going to the store and finding a washcloth for the transition. (Apparently, sucking on a washcloth is better for the teeth than a paci.)

Since Logan was in the room for that conversation, that night I told him “Remember what the Dentist said? We need to throw the pacis away – they aren’t good for your teeth.” (And then I had a meeting to go to, so I left Mike with a very distraught Logan…BAD mommy!) Mike said he cried for about a half hour – alternating between wanting his paci and his mommy. He slept through the night though.

The next night he asked for his pacis again, so again I reminded him about what the dentist had said. By the third night he asked again, but with a smile – definitely just looking to see what I’d say.

The first 5 days or so of bedtime routines were rough and completely drawn out, but by now, he’s stopped asking, and we’re all good! No more pacifiers in the house!

(Remember when Burke and Maggie got rid of their pacis?)

And now for the Foto. Burke and Maggie are taking a Gym class again this summer. (Year 1, Year 2)

This was taken right after they’d finished up.

Burke and Maggie after Gym Class

Filed under: FFFF, kids | Tagged: dentist, gym class, paci | Leave a comment »

Way Back When-esday

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Nancy

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Go on over to see who else is playing – and join in too!

A year ago, the whole family got together for my little sister’s graduation from High School. At that time, since everyone was there, we had a professional photographer come in and take about 200 photos. I didn’t post any at the time because I hadn’t purchased any at that point. . . and when I finally got around to purchasing the photos, it was winter and it didn’t seem quite right. So now… here are the photos from last year’s photo shoot! (Please note that some of them are dark – noted with an asterisk. I didn’t realize HOW dark they were until I uploaded them, but I’m lazy and didn’t take them out of the frame to scan them *blush* )

Burke

Logan

Maggie*

Nancy and Mike*

Burke, Maggie, and Logan*

The Zoo

The Siblings*

Dad and Sue*

Everybody

*Perhaps some day I’ll take those photos out, rescan them, and re-upload them…

Filed under: fam, kids, sibs, WBW | Tagged: professional photos | 4 Comments »

What’cha Watchin’?

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Nancy

We had 5 kids here for the past week (obviously, 3 of my own and then Mike’s sister’s 2 kids) with the ages ranging from 2.5 to 11. To create the illusion of downtime, we’d put the TV on at the end of the day (not all that uncommon in our house on a normal day).

The first few nights, Imagination Movers was the go-to show since my 3 like it and the 7 year old does as well. (Jaine didn’t really care what was on as she was reading or texting…) I think Logan was able to sneak in a Mickey Mouse Club House at one point (his favorite), and there was a Backyardigans (or two) as well.

Since the 2 cousins come from a different time zone, they had the TV to themselves for a few hours after my kids went to bed. The topic of TV shows was obviously discussed while surfing – including shows that are off-limits.

So now I’m curious…what are your kids watching? And are there any shows that are considered “age appropriate” but that you don’t allow? What are the reasons behind the decision?

Filed under: kids | Tagged: kids shows, off-limits, tv, tv shows | 4 Comments »

Meeting For the First Time

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Nancy

Mike’s sister, kahki, is here with her two kids, Jaine (11) and Josh (7). This is the first time that all of the cousins have met!

They’re having a *blast* – Burke and Josh are like two peas in a pod (with Logan trailing after) and Maggie can’t get enough of Jaine. Luckily, Jaine is pretty tolerant and very patient 🙂

"What'cha doing Josh?"

Jaine and Maggie

Mike's having fun too!

Filed under: fam, kids | Tagged: cousins, looking up to older family members | Leave a comment »

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Friday’s Fotos: Tanned, Tomatoes, and Baseball

Reading to My Kids – Book Review: Magic Tree House Series

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Makes My Monday: Jammies Outside

Makes My Monday: Vacation Bible School Bliss

Friday’s Fotos: More Carnival and Goofy Logan

Friday’s Fotos and Paci-B-Gone

Way Back When-esday

What’cha Watchin’?

Meeting For the First Time

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