Wordless Wednesday - Great Grandpa

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day to everyone out in cyber space. I just wanted to share with everyone what my family did today for Earth Day. I was sp proud of my children. They were all really excited and came up with some great ideas. The most fun we had was planting some new trees, rose buses and a little flower garden. We also planted a small vegetable garden. Each of the kids also took a bag and collected trash along our street. We got lots of trash and were able to recycle about 2/3 of it! I hope everyone takes a little time today to do their part to help the Earth. Remember everyday is Earth Day!

My Rose Tree. I'll have to take more pics when the flowers start blooming!

This is just one of the beautiful roses on the rose bushes we planted. They smell SO good!

Every year my dad's boss gives his employees and small decorated tree for Christmas. My dad gives the tress to my children and we plant them on Earth Day. This is tree #2.

This is the kids flower garden. We recycle an old sand box to use as the border.

While picking up trash the kids also picked me some wild flowers. We planted them in the yard. I don't know if they will survive but we will try!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

PS I heard about this great website this moring on GMA. Check it out!

www.terracycle.net

Animal House

I thought I would take the time to introduce everyone to the animals in my life. Between my husband, three kids, 9 dogs and two rabbits I sometimes feels like I live at the zoo. But I wouldn't change a thing!

Prince

Kasey

Little Bit

Obie

Cleo

Stumpy

Fancy

Lady Bug

Sally

Cotton

And Oh yeah! I am dog-sitting for my mother-in-law, so we have two more!

This is Jules and Butch

Lets party like its 1773!

GO to taxdayteaparty.com to find a Tax Day Tea Party near you!

It All Started April 12th

Kent's 6th birthday falls on Easter and over Spring Break this year. We decided it would be hard to have a birthday party this week so asked Kent what he wanted to do instead. Recently Kent found out that the Civil War started on April 12th (his birthday) at Fort Sumter (a short drive from our house). So instead of a party we took a family trip to Fort Sumter. We had a great time. It was a beautiful day with 70 degree weather and a nice breeze. The trip started with a 30 minute ferry ride to Fort Sumter. We spend about an hour touring the island before the return trip. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENT!

History

South Carolina had seceded from the Union, yet Union forces still occupied Fort Sumter at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. The South demanded that Fort Sumter be vacated. The North refused. Finally, on April 12, 1861, South Carolina Confederate troops from nearby Fort Johnson fired on the fort - the start of a two-day bombardment that resulted in the surrender of Fort Sumter by Union troops. The Civil War had begun!

Tagged!

I've been tagged again! Wish I would have skipped this one, but I have to play by the rules!

Here's the Tag:

Keepin' it Real

Here are the rules:

Take a picture of yourself right now.

No primping or preparing.

Just snap a picture.

Load the picture onto your blog.

Tag some people to play.

NO CHEATING!

Maybe if I add the kids no one will notice me! HA HA HA!

A Step Back in Time

I grew up about 30 minutes outside Philadelphia. Every year (at least once) we took a school trip into Philadelphia to visit all the historical sights. George Washington crossed the Delaware River about 5 miles up the road from where I lived. I could tell you anything you wanted to know about the Revolutionary War and the early years of America.

I have lived in South Carolina for about 15 years now. I moved in Jr High and missed learning about the Civil War and South Carolina history. But I wanted my children to learn about the history that took place right outside their back door.

So this weekend my family took a step back in time to the Civil War. About 30 minutes from our house there was going to be a Civil War-era camp as reenactors recreated scenes from the skirmishes fought along the river.

The Union




The Confederacy

The Retreat

I was so excited to be able to share this with my children. We had great seats and watched as the North surprised the Southern soldiers. A small skirmish unfolded with the Confederate soldiers holding off the Union army and then the retreat of the Union soldiers. The South had one, at least this battle. (Which was historically accurate.)

After the fighting we were able to tour the camp sites of the soldiers and even talk with a few of them. Hopefully we will be able to have more of these trip so I can share my children's heritage with them.

Opening Day

Today is opening day of baseball. Tonights game is the Philadelphia Phillies vs the Atlanta Braves. I am very torn about who to pull for during tonights game. I grew up 30 minutes outside of Philly. My first major league baseball game was the Phillies vs the Mets in Veterans Stadium. I have so many fond memories of Phillies games. Then I found out my dad was alife long Braves fan. He grew up watching the Braves with his dad. My grandfather still watches every single game on tv. I was a Braves fan threw the rotten years, threw the winning years, and now still in the losing years. But there is still a small part of me pulling for the Phillies. Either way tonights game will be one to watch. I am so glad for the start of baseball season. Let's PLAY BALL!

April Fools!

I thought of the best April Fools Day joke to play on my kids. I woke them up this morning by running around the house shouting "It's Snowing! It's Snowing!" They all jumped out of bed faster than I have ever seen them and ran to the door. Threw open the curtains and saw . . . nothing! HA! HA! HA! APRIL FOOLS! Well the boys got mad and stomped off to their room and went back to bed. My daughter fell to the floor and started bawling. "MOM HOW COME YOU LIES TO ME!" sob sob "YOU TOLD US LYING IS BAD!" sob sob "I AM SO SAD THERE IS NO SNOW!" This went on for a good 5 minutes before I could calm her down and explain to her what April Fool's Day was. OOPS! I learned my lesson. I hope your April Fools Day is a little better than mine.

(PS We were wearing shorts yesterday. You would think they would no we didn't have snow!)