Summer Park Tour: Park One

Ok, I know it's not summer yet, but the weather in north central West Virginia sure feels like it.  Anyway, my goal for the summer is to take the girls to as many parks as I can.  I can get a jump on this goal because of the way Marion County BOE built snow days into our calendar.  For the remainder of the school year we only have to work one Friday (state testing week).  I know pretty awesome.  Keep in mind we go to school until June 7th.  That's a lot of 4 day weeks, and more importantly 3 day weekends.

Sorry, I am getting off track...So the goal is to go to as many parks as we can.  I am going to take the camera along and take pictures of the girls playing and the playground.  I will rate the park on a scale of one to five swings.  One being the lowest rating and five being the highest.  So without any further ado, park number one:  Gateway Connector Park

The first thing any park has to have is swings and this park meets that requirement

Charlotte loves the swings

This is the back side of the playground equipment, there are lots
of cool things for the kids to play on, my favorite is a zip line

Drea always ready to pose

These round things move when you walk on them

This is three of the four slides at the park and Drea

This is my least favorite piece of equipment.  It is great for Drea, but
not so much for Charlotte.  Char wants to climb on it and then gets to
the very top and want to jump off. 

Charlotte posed like this a couple times, I'm not sure why, but it's cute

T bird in the tunnel

Drea's turn to swing

There's that pose again

Drea in the tunnel...look close

How could something so cute be so rotten

Adorable

Overall this is a good park.  On my scale of one to five swings, I give it a rating of three swings.  There are some positives, which include the new equipment and a variety of things for the kids to do.  The park also has rubber mulch which is great and it is walking distance to the house.  The biggest negative to this park is there is not any shade.  It was overwhelmingly hot and we were not there long before the girls wanted to leave because they could not find some relief from the sun.  Not only that, the water fountain was not working yet.  Plus that crazy round piece of equipment isn't age appropriate for Charlotte.  I'm looking forward to this challenge and I hope you enjoy reading about all the parks we plan on visiting.

Charlotte turns Three!

It's hard to believe that Charlotte is now three years old.  It seems just like yesterday, that Stacey went into labor after watching WVU beat pitt in basketball.  I knew Charlotte was going to be special because she waited until after the game.  She is more of a challenge then Drea, but she can also be the sweetest and most kind child around.  We celebrated her birthday at Burger King and I think the kids played in the play area for 3 hours.  Stacey said we will never be able to leave the play area in a decent amount of time ever again. 

It's the Birthday Girl!

Drea always posing

Yeah, someone likes Dora...or as Charlotte says Dorla

Drea helping Charlotte open her gifts

Yep, I am rotten

Momma and the Birthday Girl

Licking off the icing

Randomness

I took some pictures of the girls over the weekend and wanted to share them with everyone.  Both of our girls love art.  I'm not talking about Picasso or Rembrandt, I am talking about doing art.  You name it, they love it.  Coloring is probably at the top of the list.  Drea absolutely adores new markers.  Give Charlotte a pair of scissors and she goes to town.  The girls will take any chance they can get to do an art project.  So this weekend they wanted to paint and they set out to work.

Our little artist at work

For whatever reason Drea likes to paint in just her panties.
I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Obviously, our girls are different from one another just like most siblings.  I think this fact is evident in the way both of them sleep.  It cracked me up the other night when I peeked in on them, what a stark contrast between the way they were sleeping.  I think it shows their personalities.  In a recent blog I said Charlotte is always going at a hundred miles an hour.  So of course, when she sleeps she is all sprawled out.  Drea on the other hand likes order and everything has to be in its place.  Hence, she is rolled up in a little ball, all neat and tidy.
 

Charlotte sprawled out

Drea in a ball

Below are two pictures that Drea and I drew.  I won't tell you who drew which one.  Drea wanted me to draw a picture of a zoo.  I tried my best.  I didn't know she was going to draw a zoo, too.  I think hers maybe better.  I would like you to be the judge.  Which one do you think is better?  You can cast your vote by leaving a comment.  Also see if you can figure out what animals and activities we have at our zoos.  Have fun and vote for me..................... or Drea, I guess.

Picture 1

Picture 2