Not so great news...

Well, one of the ChemE companies wrote us a "Thanks, but No Thanks" email today. And wouldn't you figure it was the job we really wanted? Oh, well. It is what it is and Craig still has the other company to interview with next week. Plus, the one job offer he has so far, is infinitely better than no job offers. 

On to better things; We went to the Sea Life aquarium at the Mills this week for a mini vacation day. We also ate at the Rain Forest Cafe, which the kids loved because of the cheesy animatronic monkeys that were near our table, and got some fun things at the Disney Store. Funny story? Outside of the restaurant was a claw machine. Vash wanted to try it and we thought, "Hey for fifty cents, why not?" So he puts in the money and I offer to help him. "No mommy! I do it." He strikes a serious pose, moves the claw, drops it, and wins a Scooby Doo stuffed animal on his first try! I wish I had caught that on camera. My three year old beat the claw machine!

Also, while eating at the Cafe, the rain storm went off several times. (You know, the thunder and lightening and craziness by the animals?) Rhyla doesn't seem to be afraid of anything ( a little girl who will leap off of anything into anywhere), but Vash kept saying, "I scared mommy. Rub my back!"

Rhyla was ready to jump right in with the fish.

Vash was only ready to jump if Pe-Pa came too.

This is our "Scar-Wee" pose.

This is my children creating a road block on the slide. It didn't matter how many times I showed Rhyla how to get to the slide the right way, she was insistent on barreling through all the children coming down.

Vash wants to be a Pirate for Halloween. We ordered him a Jake and the Neverland Pirates costume. Rhyla apparently wants to be one too. (I bought her a Snow White outfit though. Look at her! Could you blame me? ) She's still parroting everything we say and she doesn't miss beat. Some one said "Shoot" in the mall and she yelled "Shoot" back. My mom said she was color blind at the hobby lobby the other day and Rhyla asks "Color Blind?" clear as a bell. When Craig and Vash are playing the "Squeeze" game, she'll walk up and say "8,9,3, Squeeeeeee!" (That's right, not 8,9,10 or 1,2,3, or Squeeze, but 8,9,3, Squee!)She's also gotten to be a really good dancer. She twirls around the living room for long stretches of time. She walks around on her toes and boogies whenever she hears singing or music.

Took the kids swimming a lot this week. Pe-Pa was shoving a ball into Vash's swim shirt over and over again. Vash didn't like it and finally says, "No more ball in the shirt Pe-Pa, or I'll spank-a-bum!"

Rhyla loves this towel dress and cries if you try to take the hood off her head. Lately, Rhyla has become a screamer. The other night, Vash had fallen asleep and Rhyla screamed because she didn't want to fall asleep. We went in to check on her and Vash had been startled awake. I asked if he was ok and he says "Rhyla screaming scared a Vash!" Then dosed off again.

He's started playing this game where, instead of asking for something, he says "Dot dot dot, milk! Dot dot dot, milk!" or "Dot dot dot, puzzle!" etc. and I'm supposed to get the milk, puzzle, or other requested items. I think it's cute but I've had to make him still ask in a complete sentence so that he doesn't get in the habit of talking to other people like that.

Finally, for the week, went to Craig's cousin's wedding reception on Friday night. It was beautiful and the kids had a lot of fun running around. Well, Vash had fun running after the pretty girls running around. It's always such a nice feeling at a wedding or wedding reception. There's so much joy, and hope, and optimism. It's like everyone there gets to share a bit of the bright future and dreams of the happy new couple. Too bad we aren't invited to more weddings! Anyhow, Congrats Taylor and Seth!