The Preschool Years

Every year, the wonderful teachers at PCDP make a scrapbook for every child! Here are a few highlights from Hunter's first 3 years. Above, Hunter's first day in "Miss" Willie's class,
21 months old.

2 years old!

Helping "Miss" Willie cook during 'Farm Week'.

End of the school year.

2nd year in "Miss" Willie's toddler class.

3 years old!

Nicholas Steinport and Hunter.

Community helpers week.

First day in "Miss" Tina's three-year-old room.

Hunter's 'girlfriend', Courtney Clark

The 3 Musketeers - Nicholas, Hunter, and Trey Kernea.

Dinosaur Week

Farm Week

Four year old room here I come!

Wait 'til he finds out what the meatballs are made of . . .

Hunter may be on his way to becoming a vegetarian. (I just wish he ate vegetables!) He has slowly been realizing that meat comes from animals. He has never really cared for beef, but I could sneak it past him in a few dishes, like lasagna and chili. Now, I've even had to switch to ground chicken or turkey in those dishes, as well. (I was surprised that Allan has not protested this switch!) Earlier in the week, I made a turkey breast. As Hunter took a bite, all of a sudden he said to me, "Am I eating the turkey's muscles?!" "Well, yes," I told him. "Ewww! Why am I eating it's muscles?" "Because the bones are too crunchy!" (Yes, I really did say that.)
A couple of days ago, I was making a brisket for dinner. (I already had mac-n-chz planned for Hunter.) Hunter saw me opening the package and said, "Is that blood? Why is there blood?" "Well, because this is meat."
"So, that's the turkey's blood?"
"Not exactly, this meat comes from a cow."
"But we get milk from cows."
"Yes, some cows give us milk and some cows give us meat."
"So, they drain the milk out of the cow and then cut it up?!" completely disgusted at this point.
"Something like that."

Misc. Pictures

Some pics on my camera right now. This is Hunter w/ the infamous 'Buddy'. Buddy technically belongs to the neighbors.

Buddy lives across the street and hangs out in his pen during the day. In the afternoons, when his owners come home, they let him out and he spends the rest of the evening at our house. It isn't just since we've lived here. We hear that it has been that way ever since his owners got him at about 1 year of age. He just likes this house. Or maybe it's our 'gourmet' ice cubes from our icemaker? Oh well, it's a good deal for us. The kids get a dog to play with and we don't have to pay to feed or vaccinate him!

Previous owners have left us a yard full of beautiful flowers. I took a bunch of pictures the other day w/ the 'fancy-schmancy' camera. I'll post later.

Hunter and Michaela were playing w/ the play-doh the other day. Can you guess what this is?

It's a map of the world! Hunter pressed the play-doh into the lid of a gallon ice-cream container. I bought the ice cream just for the container (really!) to store the play-doh, but Hunter and Michaela have found other uses for it!

Hunter (age 5) w/ a couple of his 4 year old friends, Mirabelle Bishaw and Ben Brooks.

These three friends last Saturday did America's Armed Forces Kids run. They ran about a mile! We thought it was pretty cool that this run started out as Junior Bloomsday in Spokane, WA, where we use to live and where Hunter was born. Would you believe these kids then went on to walk two more miles for the Faulkner Memorial Walk? This event, in memory of Maj. Blair Faulkner, raised over $14,000 for Columbus' Palmer Children's home. Wow!

Michaela slept in till the last minute, so she just hung out in the jogging stroller chowing down on breakfast while we followed Hunter on the run.

Final thought. . .

I thought the funniest part of our trip to Tuscaloosa was the way the kids rephrased the museum rules. We had lined the kids up against a wall to go over the rules before we set them loose . I told them there were 3 rules: "Rule #1: Stay w/ your grownup. Rule #2: Use your inside voice. Rule #3: Use your walking feet." When I asked them to repeat the rules, I got "Stay w/ mommy! No screaming! No running!" Oh my!

CHOM - Part 4

Molly Maksimowicz, Aubrey Krajicek, and Minnie Fromm serving 'sushi' in one of the most popular exhibits at the Children's Hands-On Museum - the Japan House. This exhibit is set up like a typical home in Japan.

"Miss Lezli, would you like some more sushi?"

"Wow, the sushi is going fast! We better get some more!"

Hunter and Katelyn Collins also enjoyed 'playing house' in Japan House.

Time to go! The kids putting their shoes back on as they exit Japan House, just like they would if they were really visiting a home in Japan.

CHOM - Part 3

After harvesting all those fruits and vegetables, Michaela was ready to take them to market.

"To market, to market. . ."

Hunter will fill 'er up.

Captain Tom Parker's Boat was another popular exhibit.

Everyone, put on your lifejackets.

Hmmm. . .

Maddi Maksimowicz wasn't sure about the animated horse.

Mirabelle Bishaw and Michaela - going fishing.

"I think I got one!"

Meghan Kernea

Miranda Collins 'cruising' in the toddler area.

"The End" of this post, anyhow. Just a few more museum pics to post.

CHOM - Part 2

Sweet Caitlyn Kernea! Hunter saw this pic and said "That's Trey's little cutie!"

Michaela loved playing farmer!

Surprisingly, Hunter did not spend all day at Mission Control. He loved the little hospital exhibit.

"Hello, may I check you in?"

Nicholas Steinport and Trey Kernea

"Please hold for Dr. Steinport."

"Oops, sorry he had to run off to an emergency!"