Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Happy Happenings Last Weekend

Last weekend we spent the weekend at my parents house- and had a wonderful time as always. The ride there- with Hailey- not usually so much fun- but the fun times we have once we arrive make it worth it.

We have recently started letting Hailey watch a DVD while we travel- it's amazing how mesmerized she is by Baby Einstein. At home we have a no TV rule for Hailey. I did a lot of research on this topic (AAP recommends no TV for kids under age 2) and we decided this was a good rule for our family. Once in a great while she will watch a couple minutes of Sesame Street on a Saturday morning but for the most part we are pretty consistent with this rule.

But I digress.

Hailey usually only sleeps for a little while in the car, no matter how carefully we plan the trip with her nap or bed time. So, letting her watch a DVD in the car has helped quite a bit.

On Saturday my dad went hunting and shot a lovely buck. I took some pictures but I will spare you the goryness (is that a real word?). Unless of course there is a high demand in the comments section from people who would like to see my dad smiling proudly next to his deer.

The main reason for our trip this last weekend was that Brooke lives in the same town as my parents and she was in a play at school. So of course, we wouldn't miss that for anything. We feel that it is very important to try to attend events like this. Before we had to move out of the area we always went to all of Brookes activities. Even though we live a bit of a distance away now and can no longer attend everything she is a part of we try to make sure we are there as much as we can be.

The play was excellent- one of the best high school plays I've ever seen- and I'm not just saying that because Brooke was in it. Hailey was not quite as impressed as I was. During the first half of the play Rich and I took turns letting her run around in the school hallways. Hailey thought this was wonderful. After the intermission my mom took Hailey so that Rich and I could watch the rest of the play (Thank you mom!!).

I wasn't able to take any pictures because of the no flash photography rule, but my dad was able to get some with his camera.

Brooke is the in the middle of the row that has the five girls in it.
This was part of the court scene.
Brooke is on the left end of the row here at the end of the play.

We came home on Sunday afternoon and while I know I shouldn't tell you this, lest I jinx myself- Hailey slept almost the whole way home. I slept too- for an entire hour. I can't tell you the last time I had an hour long afternoon nap.

So, we're home for now. But, tomorrow we will leave once again to head back to my parents house for Thanksgiving. I probably won't be around much while we're there because I'll be busy doing important things like eating and shopping. And of course- visiting with our families.

12 comments:

tammi said...

Hope you have safe travels and a very happy Thanksgiving, Melanie!!

Anonymous said...

I can relate to pretty much everything you just wrote. I grew up in a family of hunters, and the guys were always so proud to hang their deer and get a picture taken. My daughter and I were in MN last year during hunting season and she LOVED seeing the dear. Lately, she's been asking when Grandpa is going to go shoot more "deers" to get meat :-) We also let our kids watch TV in the car. We got a portable TV/DVD thing . . . they get to watch one movie every time we stop for gas (15 hour drive!). And, like you, we don't live in the same town as family - but when we moved, we made a conscious decision to make it back for as many events as possible. I haven't missed a baby shower, wedding, anything! You are blessed to have a such a wonderful family :-) Safe travelling and have a Happy Turkey Day!

Kellan said...

I'm all for DVD's in the car!!!! I'm glad you enjoyed the play - I love to see the high school plays at my girls' high school - we go to all of them. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family, Melanie. See you soon. Kellan

Talk..to..Grams said...

I giggled when I read your comment on my blog!!! My family just laughs at me and says I wont last very long before I am posting again!

Have a safe trip to your folks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! You can't miss if you are with family!! I always eat way to much!! My daughter in law makes really good pies!! and everything else!! Bill is frying the turkey and he knows how to do this really good!! He is safe with it,too!!

I am glad you had such a nice time at your folks last weekend and that Hailey slept on the way home!!
Love and Hugs, Grams

Pam said...

You are such a good mommy! I had a no tv rule too....until potty training came. Then Ashlyn got to watch tv while she sat on the little potty and since then it has snowball on me! (you know a sleepy mommy of a newborn isn't much good so the tv helped to entertain her- we are now working on weaning her off it a bit!)
I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! It was so nice that you could go see Brooke in her play! Enjoy your holidays! I'll miss your posts and our chats, but I'm glad you are able to be with family!

Melissa said...

Oh yes, I know about those pictures of the proud men next to their kill. . .

And I also know about not-so-fun car rides with little ones. Kyle screamed anytime he was in the car for the first year of his life. I mean bloody murder screaming. It was miserable. And it was about the time he started getting better about riding in the car that Megan started experiencing carsickness. Thankfully with her it's only on trips of an hour or more, and we do give her dramamine which helps most of the time though it makes her real groggy and easily upset.
But anyway. . . Sounds like the play was a success for Brooke. What was the play called?

Sharon Brumfield said...

Have a great time!
I probably won't be on line for the few days after Thanksgiving either. We are going to spend a few days at the camper since Paw Paw will be with my sister in law.
Have fun!

Cheryl said...

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Brooke is a very pretty girl. Have fun and drive safe! God Bless!

Andrea said...

No TV under age 2? Wow -- good for you for sticking to that for the most part.

Actually, my girls didn't really enjoy TV until about that age anyway (except for Joelle and her Price is Right addiction...)

Have a great time with your family. Happy Thanksgiving!

ZAM said...

I hope that's the start of the "better" sleeping pattern. Re TV rule, yes I agree to that but I'm letting Matt watch Sesame or Barney or an educational CD we recently got but that's usually in the morning for few minutes. Oh wait, I made a mistake about another show (but will write about it later when I can :D).

Happy Thanksgiving. And glad you had time to see your family.

Mary said...

Melanie,

I'm sure that Brooke was delighted that you were able to attend her play. I'm glad you enjoyed your time with your family.

I come from a long line of hunters. This year my cousin shot two deer. They were divided among all those men in his hunting party. Dad hunted to supplement our family's meat supply. I would love to see the photo of your Dad with his beautiful buck.

Take care, Melanie. I send abundant blessings for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Blessings,
Mary

my4kids said...

We tried not to allow the kids to much tv when little but they did occasionally when they would sit up with us. I would have loved the dvds in the car when the boys were little though they never slept, the girls always did, they still do.