The Steen Experience: August 2009

27 August 2009

Going Batty

Tuesday morning I'm hanging out, sewing, doing misc. around the house stuff. I walk upstairs to the office and see this giant thing on the window.

OK. So it's not "giant," but it's bigger than the things that are normally on the window.

The first thing I think is that a giant cockroach has climbed up the side of my house.

Wait, no, is it a frog? See the tiny little toes?

Holy cow! No, it's a bat! A bat is hanging on my window! How cool is that?!

Cheeto really wanted to get the bat!

The really neat thing is, we have a bat box hanging on a tree that is only ~20 ft. from this window. I'm hopeful that the little guy/girl found the bat box and is hanging in it right now!

Bats rock!

24 August 2009

Preschool

Ezren's first day of preschool was the 17th. This will be our sixth year at this school and our last. I can't believe next year he'll be in Kindergarten!

But he loves school and especially loves "his girl" Allison. When he walked in the room that first day, she ran up and hugged him and said, "Ezren! I'm so glad you're here!" Then she took his face in her hands and said, "I missed you so much!" He said he missed her too and they hugged again. I must admit, I got a bit misty-eyed at that.

This was also the first day in a long while that I have had alone with no kids. Here the three are ready to embark on another day of school.

Yes, I took many of these shots (10 to be exact).

Yes, this is the best one.

Now for the sweet one...

I love school!

21 August 2009

Completion of the Fourth Orbit

On August 5, 2009 at 2:53 pm (EDT), my sweet Ezzy completed his fourth orbit around our Sun. He knew his birth time A -because I remind him of it, and B - because I told him he couldn't play the Wii that day until he officially turned four...at 2:53. Let me tell you, he was on top of that clock all day. Asking anyone who could tell time if it was 2:53 yet.

After Wii playing was done and dinner made (he chose corndogs, macaroni and cheese, french fries -- perfect four-year-old food!), we had cake. This cake was delicious! Forget that I didn't put on a crumb coat - it all eats the same. Chocolate with buttercream frosting. Mmmmmm!

And for those of you who don't know/can't tell, it's in the shape of a Wii remote (aka: Wiimote).

Ez is a Wii addict, and so this year, most of his gifts were Wii related.

New controller...

New Nunchuck...

Some Mario related clothes...

I hope this fifth orbit is just as wonderful and special as the fourth!

20 August 2009

Summer Randomness

This explains Isaac's world.

How gorgeous is this dog?! Remind me of that when she won't come inside at 11:pm!

Usually, Zelda doesn't have much patience for the boy who won't sit still. But on this day, she let him love on her for a long time.

While the flooring guys were upstairs installing, the kids and I were trapped downstairs. I gave them visors to paint to occupy them for a few minutes.

Olivia's a goofball!

Apparently, she's not the only one!

My kids are UNO addicts. After the visor project, they went outside, but because of all the rain there were millions of mosquitoes trying to eat them, so they came in, grabbed UNO, and played. I thought they looked like a bunch of old ladies playing cards!

When the flooring guys had to floor the kids' bedrooms, they were all shoved into a different room to sleep. They love having sleepovers and thought this was great fun!