Easter 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

Gone Fishin'

In the kids' opinion, no trip to Mississippi is complete without a stop by a local fishing hole.

 

 

Doug's dad has a generous friend who allows us use of his pond.

 

 

 

 

And with the way the fish bite, they don't see many fishermen.

 

 

Jonathan hooked this whopper right away. 

 

 

(Ok, it was really just a trick of the camera angle).

 

 

Unfortunately, the kids believe that all fish are eagerly waiting to be hooked and have been sadly disappointed by having to wait for a bite at other fishing spots.

 

 

 

Josie caught several though as far as I know, she didn't lick any this year.

 

 

 

And old soul Matthew insisted on baiting his own line and unhooking his fish.

 

 

 

 

 Jonathan convinced Grandpa to cook a few of the fish for dinner.

 

 

 

Once the miniscule bones were picked out, everyone got a taste of the goods.

Friday Fire

A neighbor once called us "The One Family Neighborhood Watch." 

 

We could add "Family Brush Collectors" to that resume, too.

 

 

The kids have been wanting a fire so they agreed to collect the necessary sticks.

 

 

I'm not sure there's anything more terrifying that these wild boys and a girls wandering around with long, sharp pointed objects in the dwindling daylight.

Thankfully no eyes were put out in the process.

 

Matthew perfected his toasting skills.

 

Josie might need a little more practice. 

Katherine was dubbed the Marshmallow Hoarder.  She raided the bag and filled her hands, clutching them tightly to her body lest anyone should try to take one.

 

 

 

Jonathan's cheeks grew as large as his brown eyes as he stuffed in many a marshmallow.

 

 

And for the occasion we created a new treat: the Swoopie - toasted marshmallow stuffed between two whoopie pie cakes.  I think Stephen approves!

What $200 Will Buy You

One of these boys is a saver but the rest are fearful of burning holes in their pockets.

 

 

They have received birthday money and Christmas gift cards which we insisted be saved for future purchases.  But like the widow in the Bible who kept pestering the judge for relief, they wore me down until I finally decided it would be better for all around to let them make their purchases. 

 

Matthew got some "change" from his gift card and Jonathan squealed, "Ooh, now you have more money to squander!"

 

And Josie was not to be left out especially when she saw a princess in a castle. 

 

 

(I would gladly spend my own money to buy a barrette to keep her hair back but it would truly be squandered - she'd never keep it in).

Meet Cordon Bleu

We are pleased to introduce the newest member of our family.

 

 

Matthew has been wanting a fish for sometime time, and we finally gave in.  And seeing as the only relatively safe place in the house is the kitchen, the male betta has taken up residence along with a LEGO Atlantis minifigure on the counter right next to the stove. 

March Madness

This whole blog began with some boys and a ditch and a dam.  The days keep on ticking past but we keep coming back to the familiar and fun.

 

 

Days and days of rain finally ended leaving our ditches rushing with water:

the perfect playground for little ones.

 

 

 

Katherine was not to be left out and waded in barefoot

before I finally located a pair of boots a couple of sizes too big. 

 

 

With a little bit a direction, Matthew and Stephen constructed a working dam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan and Katherine experimented with a pulley system.

 

 

 

And Andrew supervised the lot.

 

 

Ah, yes.

 

 

The long winter is past and spring is upon us:

fresh air, sunshine and lots of outdoor playtime.

Pine Wood Derby 2015

It's Derby time again!

 

 

The boys have been busy thinking about their cars (although it seems like they waited until the last minute to get actually make them).  But they were ready for impound and are now ready to race.

 

 

Matthew and his den-mate Maxwell were first up.

 

 

 

Stephen flashed his driver's license and headed to the starting line.

 

Stephen's car is the gold one on the left.

 

Finally, Andrew was up for his third and last Derby.

 

 

As they speeded to the finish line, they were close.

 

 

 

Andrew came in second by a very, very, very close margin!

 

 

 

I'm so proud of these boys

 

 

 

 

 

and dads

 

 

 

 that keep this pack going.