Bridgeport City Pool

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Jumping off the diving board



After two years of asking, I finally took Bethany to the Bridgeport City Pool. Why did it take me two years? Well, we travel a lot in the summer, we live at a lake, and I just plain didn't want to go. I did not want to go prancing around in front of all the high school kids I knew would be there in my bathing suit. I avoided going to the pool at every request. Brian finally went with us. He didn't swim. He sat and read a book. It made me feel better to be there with another adult. I only saw eight kids I knew. We went on a Sunday afternoon after school had started, so there were not too many people there. We had a really nice afternoon. I regretted not taking her earlier. I suppose next summer I can manage to take her on a Sunday afternoon. I still am not sold on going on a week day, when the pool is crawling with kids that I teach. Maybe we could find a pool in Fairmont we could go to. The drive would be worth, not seeing my students. There is just something about being in a bathing suit around your students that bothers me. Bethany enjoyed the day, but said the water tasted funny. Lake water tastes better than chlorine water in her opinion.

First Day of School 2010

Sweet Bethany

Another school year has begun for the Johnson family. Bethany is in second grade this year, in Mrs. Barnes class. She is doing well with her school work, and is enjoying reading chapter books now. I am very much enjoying reading to her whole books without pictures. It is one of my favorite things that we do together. We have been reading the "Zack Files", "Junie B. Jones", "Ramona" books, "Magic School Bus" books, and "Magic Tree House" books. I'm glad I saved all the books I enjoyed as a girl. I have the "Anne of Green Gables" series waiting for her. I read them I think in fourth and fifth grade. I love reading, and I love reading to Beth even more. Maybe I'll take Bethany to Prince Edward Island after we read the Anne books together. It has been a dream of mine to go there for a really long time.

All I want for Christmas is...

Bethany has lost both of her front teeth! She looks so cute. They have been out for a while, with no sign of the new teeth cutting through her gum. So, the song "All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" is hers for this Christmas season. She is doing okay without them. I love how cute she is, but I do wonder when those big girl teeth will decide to a make an appearance.

The WOW Factory

A great discovery was made this weekend. Trina and I took the kids to the WOW factory in Morgantown. It is ceramics and pottery shop, where you can walk in and paint pieces of pottery. It was a very fun afternoon. I painted a dress vase for flowers. Bethany painted a bunny for Easter. Jake and Molly worked on various pieces as gifts for their grandparents.

We will go back in a week, and pick up our fired pieces. We might just sit down and paint something else. It is definitely a good activity for cold winter afternoons or hot summer days. We will go again for some painting fun.

Maple Lake Easter Party 2010

Bethany and I attended the Maple Lake Easter party again this year. She had a nice time doing some crafts and playing with the other kids.

She had a fun time during the egg hunt. She found a bunch of eggs, and then sorted through her goodies on the porch of the clubhouse.

Bethany also got to visit with the Easter bunny. She got a treat from her basket during the party. After the egg hunt, crafts, and snacks were over Bethnay played on the playground with the other children.

Endless Snow...Winter 2010

The winter of 2010 had endless snow. It was either snowing, going to snow, or had just snowed. The we had layer upon layer of snow. There were piles of old crusty snow lingering for months. We managed to have some fun in the snow, but it did loose some of its fun after weeks of frigid weather.

This particular storm we gained nine inches. This was not the biggest or the smallest accumulation we had this season. I just happened to measure the amount and take a picture. Bethany and the dogs enjoyed the snow much more than I did.

Bethany liked to make snow angels. The dogs would jump on her, and they would all wrestle around in the snow for a bit. The dogs loved to snoot around in the snow with their noses, and play tag. We all had enough snow this winter.

Ginger Bread Houses

When we were home over Christmas break, I wanted to build ginger bread houses. I mixed up ginger bread dough, and Brian drew up the plans for the houses, but we didn't anticipate how long it would take for the pieces to glue together with icing. We ended up making ginger bread cookies instead. They were very yummy.

Sometime after Christmas, Mom found ginger bread house kits with pre-made house forms, candies in bags for decorating, and icing mix. Natalie and Bethany talked about making the houses for weeks while we waited for the weather to be good enough for travel. Over the birthday celebration weekend, the girls built their houses.