The Park with Friends

We met our friends Mrs. Tonya, Emma Kate, and Jack at North Meck Park this afternoon. It was a beautiful day and everyone else had the same idea. Even though the playground was crowded, it was nice and everyone had a good time. Fletcher was thrilled to see his friends.

Fletcher Pollock, Abstract Artist

Fletcher painted at the easel outdoors today. In true abstract form, he painted a picture of "Mommy with 100 hands." I sometimes feel like I could use 100 hands!

Beautiful Gaston County

Yes, I said beautiful Gaston County! Today Fletcher and I went to the Schiele Museum in Gastonia for the Fossil Fair where we saw an exhibit called TUSKS!, mined for gems, and looked for fossils. They have a great outdoor exhibit as well: the Backcountry Farm with a bull, pigs, and sheep. We then headed to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden near Belmont. Absolutely beautiful! They just opened an Orchid Conservatory, the centerpiece of which is a stone wall with flowing water and covered with orchids. It was unbelievably beautiful. We then walked around the gardens. Fletcher's favorite part was running (many, many times) through an arching fountain. We had a great day in Gaston County.

New Do

If you have not seen me in the past few days, you might be surprised by my new 'do'. I went from all one length, chin-length, the color of mud, to short, with bangs, and red! It was time for a change. I cut the bangs and did the color myself. I was telling Tonya about it and she said I had to post myself on my blog. So...let me know what you (honestly) think.

Dino Dig

Today Fletcher and friends had fun digging in the dirt to uncover dinosaur 'fossils' and 'treasure.' We used spoons to dig, brushes to clean, and magnifying glasses to identify. It was a big hit! What could be better than dirt and dinos?

Boyhood and Rubber Boots

After our adventures in the woods and the creek the other day, Fletcher and I decided he needed some rain boots appropriate for tromping in the creek and creekside mud. So today we headed to Target and found just the right thing for a little boy. As soon as we got home we had to go try them out and headed to the creek. As I sat on the ground and watched Fletcher dig and splash, I thought "what a perfect boyhood experience this is."

Monday and Mommy

Monday Fletcher was out of school for President's Day and so he and I went to the library and the playground in the morning so we could stay out of Daddy's way for a little while. Here are a few pics from Holbrook park where we enjoyed reading a library book on a bench, playing, and exploring.

A Walk in the Woods

Yesterday Fletcher and I went for a walk/bike ride down to the neighborhood playground and on the way back, tromped in the woods for a little while. Today after church and some lunch we went back because Fletcher wanted to build a dam near the creek. We had a great time tromping, listening to the birds, digging in the mud, and getting completely dirty. Just what a little boy (and his Mommy) need! I have the best childhood memories of going to my Aunt Linda and Uncle Dale's house on the Brushy Mountains and doing the same sorts of things. There is not a whole lot of undisturbed nature left anywhere, but we are lucky to have just a little bit within walking distance.

Tub Fun

Here are some funny shots I got of Fletcher last night in the tub. He has learned the joy of laying back and feeling the water in his hair and all the sounds seeming foggy. Do you remember doing that as a kid?

Charlotte at Play!

Today we went with Sophie and Mrs. Julia to Charlotte at Play in South Charlotte. The kids had a great time in all the exhibit areas: construction zone, pirate ship, dinosaur dig, vets office, and more. We had lunch before heading home. Fletcher and Sophie play so well together and get along great (and Julia and I love to talk!). It was a very enjoyable Friday outing for everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you all had a very Happy Valentine's Day! Last Saturday Fletcher and I went to Children's Arts Project to make Valentine's. It was a lot of fun. Fletcher enjoyed making a Valentine's wand and other cool projects. At home we made a necklace from heart-shaped pasta, Valentine's cards, and more. Love to you all!

My Blogiversary

Today is my 1 year blogging anniversary! I'm hooked. I may be more active at some times than others, but I think I'll always be a blogger now. Thanks for you comments over the past year. I've enjoyed sharing our lives with you all.

Georgie and Little Mouse

Some kids have imaginary friends. Mine has an imaginary mouse and an imaginary airplane. Little Mouse has been around for a while and we like him: he is well behaved and is a good playmate for Fletcher. Georgie is new to the scene. I just recently learned that Little Mouse is 21years old and four-and-a-half inches tall. Georgie is the plane and he flies little mouse wherever he wants to go and often follows us to school. Georgie just celebrated his 5th birthday. Or house is filling up fast!

Save the Ducks and the Trees

Buy reusable bags at your grocery store! Bi-Lo has them for $1 each that hold as much as a paper grocery bag and they will take $.05 of your total bill for each bag you use each week! I use to ask for paper every week, thinking it had to be better than plastic, and then would use the paper bag at home for recyclables. But deforestation really fires me up, so I'm urging everyone to spend $5 or $6 once and never use paper or plastic again!

Walk/Run/Crawl

Ed and I have declared this our "Year of Change" and as part of this we have begun walking with the goal of becoming runners! We are starting slow since we have not exercised for a while. I walked 20-25 mins 5 times since Saturday and Ed has walked 20-25 mins 4 times this week. We will be incorporating intervals of running soon. We found a great track at a local middle school that we really like. We take Fletcher with us and he rides his bike while we walk, so he is benefiting, too. We will be budgeting for new running shoes in March. Ed and I have a goal of completing the Skyline 5K in April. We'll keep you posted on our progress toward this goal. We don't own a scale so I don't know my starting weight (which I wouldn't post here anyway!) but will let you know when I can fit back into my favorite jeans.

Evelyn, you are an inspiration!

To ImaginOn!

Fletcher played hookie from preschool today and knew exactly what he wanted to do so...this morning we headed to ImaginOn in Charlotte to see the new exhibit, Contraptions A to Z. Fletcher enjoyed the Drum Machine and the Cuckoo Cuckoo Clock. We checked out some books, and played some games on the computers. All in all, a fun morning at ImaginOn.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Yesterday was the first day of Chinese New Year and we celebrated by reading books, singing songs, and making a Dragon Paperbag Puppet. Mandy's family invited us over to celebrate with them in the evening. Qiulian made a delicious meal, Fletcher enjoyed playing with Mandy, and I thoroughly enjoyed the company and conversation. Fletcher wore his outfit that his Aunt Cathy and Uncle Louis got him in China last summer. He'd loved the outfit and felt very special (but did not want his picture taken).