I Told You Squirrels Were Trouble

First, there is my own experience with the screened in porch. I have since learned that our friends the Krajewskis have three squirrels tag teaming to chew through plexi glass on their bird feeder. Now this story in the Fluvanna Review this week continues to prove that squirrels are rascals to say the least.

Perhaps I should relent. Afterall, my pesky squirrel did remember my birthday last weekend. Check out his greeting below.

Visit from Grandpa Jon

Grandpa Jon had business in Washington D.C. and then spent the following weekend (March 14-16) with us. It was so great to have him here. Ashley counted down the days until his arrival, and the kids loved having Grandpa visit. He hardly had a moment or free lap space as a result.

The only downside was that it was writing week for Trent, whose paper was due on Monday, the 17th. (See blog post below, Hooray for Trent) He really wanted to spend more time with his dad than he did. Thanks Grandpa Jon for being so understanding.

Trent picked up his dad in D.C. on Friday, and they were home in time for dinner. After dinner, Trent went off to write, and Grandpa was subjected to Friday movie night. This week's selection was Sky High. How fun is that I ask you?

Saturday meant a trip to Monticello, of course. Don't you all want to come visit just so you can go to Monticello? Trent, Grandpa Jon, and Ashley made the trek. Ashley has now proudly been to Monticello 3 times. After all of that fun, we all met at the JAG School for lunch. It was SUCH a beautiful day! We got to picnic outside. Trent stayed behind to write, and the rest of us headed off to Michie's Tavern.

We didn't take the tour. I don't know that Sami would have been up for that. I think I would like to sometime. Anyhow, we checked out the general store and mill for gifts to send home to Grandma Lula, Aunt Dee, and Aunt Linda (Trent's grandma and aunts). Then, we walked around the tavern shop and visited the clothier. Luckily, Grandpa had his camera. I left ours in the car. At the clothier that day, they were letting the kids dress up and get their pictures taken. Ashley and Sami put on colonial dresses, and Grandpa took their picture. When we get that picture, I'll be sure to post it. Jon didn't want to dress up. I hope it was just that he wasn't in the mood and not a result of my not letting him wear anything grey last time we were at the clothier.

After that outing, we were ready to head home for a break. We went home and showed Grandpa how to catch the American Idol performances he had missed that week on youtube. Youtube can be great. Grandpa helped Jon ride his bike and fixed Sami's so that it was easier to ride. Grandpa Jon is great!

After dinner and putting kids in bed, I introduced Grandpa Jon to Heroes. We watched the first three episodes of Season 1. I think I have my third convert. Though my friend Lisa (second convert) is admittedly addicted to the story line, she also claims to be more than willing to watch just for the sake of the Petrelli brothers (Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia) and Adam Monroe (David Anders). You aren't watching Heroes yet? We may need to talk.

Thanks Grandpa Jon for such a great visit. It was so nice to see you.

Happy Easter

Wishing you all a very happy Easter. It seems I was not to get a picture of all three kids in which all was well. Here are some of the better or more amusing attempts.

Poor Jon. We did come home early from church. Jon said he didn't feel good. He has had a cold this week, but I think he is more tired than anything and is currently napping. Trent stayed home altogether. He now has a full on cold.

Again, happy Easter from all of us crazy Warners.

Hooray for Trent

Trent turned in his big research paper today (3-17). We are proud of what he accomplished and glad for him to be done with the project. Congrats to Trent!

My Enemy the Squirrel

I can't think of one person who reads this blog who doesn't know I worked at Boy Scout Camps for 5 summers, Trent for many many more. I worked at Camp Loll in 1993 and remember with a fair amount of clarity the whole black bear incident. We had a bear wander into camp, which isn't that unusual in and of itself. A troop failed to lock up their bear box, and said bear helped himself easily to some cookies and milk. Furthermore, one of the staff members kept extra helpings of dessert and such in his tent. So, of course, the bear came back. The bear continued to roam camp causing trouble until the Wyoming State Game and Fish came in and trapped the bear and took him out to relocate him. Add to this the countless times I have heard scouts councelled about hanging their backpacks and not leaving food in them or the animals would chew into them, and you will likely laugh at my utter stupidity.

Last fall, Ashley gathered about 1/2 gallon worth of acorns at the park. She wanted them for some undetermined future project. They have been in the screened in porch in the toy box out there for months, but they were inside a ziplock bag until a few weeks ago. The kids had been out playing and had gotten into them. I knew the bag was open and some of the acorns were spilled out, but I didn't think much of it. Until.......

The last week of February (more than two weeks ago now), Jon, Sami, Trent and I looked out on screened-in porch and noticed a squirrel running around INSIDE the porch. I looked around trying to figure out how it had gotten in but couldn't figure it out. We scared it by our presence, and I had to go out onto the porch, open the door, and systematically scare the squirrel out of the porch. The squirrel managed to get an acorn as it ran out the door. Jon, Sami and I immediately gathered up every acorn and took them out into the trees for the squirrels to have. They gathered them up within hours. No problem right?

Yesterday, I looked out the window and happened to notice a squirrel crawl into the screened-in porch. This time, I saw it enter and noticed that some squirrel had nawed a squirrel size hole into the screen. Not a small size forage in the woods type squirrel. We are talking a big fat grey squirrel. It wasn't there the first time. I looked everywhere then. Even though it has been over two weeks and there has been nothing aloud out there that resembles food, the squirrels still chewed an easy access into the screened-in porch looking for more acorns.

Look, ultimately, it is my own fault. I should have known better than to leave open acorns out there. For now, however, I still choose to blame the squirrel and look upon them not as cute little creatures but as the pests that they are. Did you know squirrels are rodents? Fluffy and cute perhaps, but pesky diabolical rodents.

A Visit From Flat Stanley

I am sorry to be entering this late. This trip was actually February 23. We have been a bit busy around here lately, so it was harder for me to get out on the big computer to post these pictures.

Our nephew Blake sent us his Flat Stanley recently. We were very glad for the opportunity. Of course we wanted to do the best job we could before sending Flat Stanley back to Blake's second grade class. One of the items on the list is to take a picture with Flat Stanley at a landmark of some kind near where you live. Considering that Monticello is about 20 miles or less from our house and it is a recognizable landmark, we chose to take Flat Stanley to Monticello.

I have been to Monticello, but Trent still hadn't. I also had a Relief Society board meeting that morning and was recovering from Ashley's sleepover. So, Trent and Ashley took Flat Stanley up to Monticello. I understand that Flat Stanley was very well behaved. He did not try and jump on the beds or try on Jefferson's boots or sit in the chair in Jefferson's study. What did Flat Stanley learn you ask. Well, I can't be certain, but I will catalog some of Ashley's and Trent's impressions.

Ashley has been to Monticello before. She went with me. She was surprised that all of the flowers around the west lawn are gone. It was late summer when she and I went before. Ashley also thought it was very cool that she was the only one who raised her hand when the tour guide asked who had been there before. Finally, she loved that her dad walked down to the parking lot with her instead of riding the shuttle bus back down. I am glad they did that too. It was a great way to gauge how long the walk is in case we ever wanted to just go up to the grounds or the gift shop without taking a house tour.

Trent, first off, got to finally figure out where Monticello is exactly. It seems impossible that it could be up as high as it is when you drive past the turn off on the 53, which he does at least 10 times a week. Once you have been there though, you get an appreciation for the idea of Mr. Jefferson's mountain. Next, Trent remarked on what he discovered he and Thomas Jefferson had in common. I loved his observation, because I think most people think about those attributes of Thomas Jefferson that they don't share with him. It was interesting to think of him as a typical guy in some ways. For instance, Trent noted that he and Jefferson both liked gadgets and enjoyed taking something someone had already created and trying to improve upon it. All true. Jefferson was certainly the 18th/19th century equivalent of a gadget guy. Trent did make one observation that I found funny. Jefferson was criticized for having such a grand home with no grand staircase. There are two very small and steep staircases off to either side of the house in Monticello. Jefferson's response to this criticism was that a grand staircase took up space and was unnecessary. Trent found this hilarious considering that there is a dome on Monticello and the dome room where you can actually see the dome is and was seldom used. Well, we all have those things that are unnecessary but which we absolutely love don't we?

In composing the letter to accompany Flat Stanley back to Kaysville, I reflected on all of the history of Virginia. Like John Denver sang, life is old here. It was fascinating to think about even the main points of history here in Virginia. Those reflections are perhaps best left for another post though. For now, here is one more picture of Ashley and Flat Stanley on the west lawn at Monticello. Thanks Trent for the great pictures. Thanks Blake for the great opportunity. We hope you and your classmates have as much fun learning about Flat Stanley's Virginia adventure as we did planning it.

Why I Like Bunko

Friday night was Bunko night with the LCS club. I haven't been since the Halloween Bunko in October, so I thought I should get out and see some of the people I haven't seen since October. I didn't want to drive all the way out to West Charlottesville. I didn't want to miss family movie night with the kids. It was a particularly big favor to ask Trent to stay with the kids on this Friday (he very graciously did it). I had several other excuses. The bottom line is that I can be a hermit. However, once I get out, I really have a good time and am glad I went. This time was no exception. It was a lot of fun. Here is my brief list why I really do like going to Bunko.

1. The food. We all bring an appetizer, drink, or dessert depending on what we are assigned that month. The food is always great. This time, someone made crepes with fresh strawberries, nutella, and some cream cheese spread. It was so yummy. I ate two. Hey, so did nearly everyone else, and it was the only dessert I had.

2. The company. We talk constantly while we play. Assignments are coming in, and so it was fun to hear where everyone is going. It was also interesting to see who is staying. The company and the food are the reasons I go. I never win at Bunko, and I don't care. I told Maureen this when she was my partner for one round. Maureen takes her Bunko very seriously, and told me to stay away from her for the rest of the evening. Still, it is true.

3. I almost won as the biggest loser. It would have been the first time I won at Bunko. After 12 games, I had 11 losses. Because it was a Friday, the majority decided to play a third round (six games). My friend Lisa cursed me saying that I would now likely win every round. She was nearly right. I won 5 out of 6. Thanks a lot Lisa. You finally get your revenge for my missing book club when we discussed The Tender Bar.

4. The drive home. I get to drive Trent's fun little car. I get to listen to my MP3 player the whole way, AND on the way home, I got to drive by the Charlottesville Volvo dealership and check out all the shiny silver Volvos. Now, if that wasn't worth the drive to West Charlottesville in and of itself, I don't know what was. (Some of you know what I mean. If you don't, you haven't read Twlight.)