WW- Foggy

WW- The Return

It's good to have them home again.

WW- Rockin' Robin

WW- What Do You See?

Can you see them?

 How about now?

 Maybe this will help. About 30 Cedar Waxwings took perch on our front tree.

 We've never seen a Cedar Waxwing this close up and certainly not this many.

 Joey was obsessed with birds for a long time and Cedar Waxwings were his favorite.

 I thought he was having an attack when I heard him screaming for me, "MOM! Come here, QUICK!!!"

 It was pretty exciting.

Joey informed me that the Cedar Waxwing eats berries. The birds flitted from this large tree to our smaller Crabapple tree and then back again. Luckily, they stayed long enough for me to capture a few fuzzy shots through our windows.

WW- Sweet Reward

After all the trouble with the Science Fair project it all worked out in the end. Joey and his friend ended up taking home 3rd prize. Yahoo! Todd and I joked that it would be pretty freaking funny if I ran up on stage, knocking Joey and his friend out of the way, and claimed the ribbon for myself. HA! I'm just glad the project is done and Joey is pleased with his ribbon. Win/win!

WW- All Dec'd Out

WW- My Little Friend

Black-capped Chickadee

WW- His Time To Shine

After years of watching his older brothers Ben finally got a shot at the Boy Scout boat regatta. The kid is full of hot air. He finished 4th in the race. Needless to say, he was thrilled to get his very own trophy. The kid has been in one pinewood derby and one boat regatta and got a trophy both times. How's that for lucky? Way to go, Ben!

WW- The View

A bench with a view.

(This one is for Betty)

A tree with a view.

WW- Fairyland

WW- The Last of Summer

Never lose an opportunity

of seeing anything

beautiful, for beauty is

God's handwriting.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

WW- Solo

WW- In My Garden

WW- Beauty

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." 

-Anne Frank

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."

-Louisa May Alcott

Gray Days

For weeks we've had nothing but gray days and cold rainy weather.

In between the rainy days Todd managed to dig a massive hole, fill it with cement, and get a post in the ground for our brand new basketball hoop. The kids have been waiting (and begging) almost an entire year for a basketball hoop.

Once the backboard and hoop were finally up (after waiting three days for the cement to set) hours and hours of basketball were played in our driveway. It has now been about two weeks and the kids are still thrilled with their hoop. As a former basketball player I must admit that I'm pretty happy with it too.

The challenge now is holding the kids in the house until a reasonable time when the sound of basketballs bouncing and kids screaming won't wake our neighbors. From sun up until sundown the kids want to be playing basketball. The minute the boys come home from school they finish their homework as soon as possible, change into play clothes, and head outside for some hoops.

Joey is already talking about how much better he will be when he plays basketball for school again next year. Quite a statement coming from a kid who wasn't sure he wanted to play next year at all. But I can see his confidence growing and Tommy and Ben aren't far behind. Even Grace has learned to dribble fairly well, though getting the ball up to hoop is a different story.

Basketball hoop = good decision

This morning  we awoke to the sun shining. It was a welcome sight. It has been a long time since we've seen the sun and we took full advantage. While Todd took Grace to run some errands Ben and I decided to get some exercise.  My last few runs were rain soaked and cold so I was more than willing to get a run in on a 55 degree sunny (thought very windy) day. Joey and Tommy opted to stay home (this was a test- leaving Joey in charge. thankfully it went well) while Ben and I headed out.

For three miles Ben rode his bike next to me. My little running buddy. It was so much fun! And he was certainly pleased to be singled out as my partner. 

It was a bizarre sensation leaving Tommy and Joey at home by themselves. Of course I was paranoid but I had to remind myself that at Joey's age I had been staying home by myself for quite some time. My kids are growing up and I need to give them enough space every once in a while to help with the process. Luckily, when Ben and I returned home the boys hadn't been stolen, the house wasn't burned down, and nothing was broken (that I know of). Success!

Speaking of kids growing up. Grace had her first playdate this afternoon. One of our neighbors (behind us and to the left) has five girls and two of them are Gracie's age and are in class with her at school. Grace was invited over to their house for a girlie cupcake party. We were thrilled for her and accepted right away. Unfortunately, when we told Grace she started bawling and didn't want to go. The girl is a homebody for sure, always nervous in new situations if her mama is not there with her. She wanted me to go with her and stay there but I refused and told her that she could come home any time she wanted.

Todd walked her over to the neighbor's and I stayed home and spied on the girlie party. I watched as the girls played on the playset, rode bikes, played croquet, and duck, duck, goose.

I couldn't help but laugh as I watched 6 small girls climbing on wood piles, rolling around on the grass and dirt, throwing balls, and riding bikes at a party that was supposed to be a girlie cupcake party.  At one point all of the girls went spy stealth mode, climbed on a large pile of firewood, peaked over the fence, and spied on the boys next door (that would be my three boys, by the way). Who needs all that girlie stuff when you can play outside and be crazy? It was fun to watch. And it was a great experience for Grace. She stepped outside of her comfort zone and had fun.

Yes. My kiddos are growing at warp speed around here and I'm just trying to keep up with the milestones. Less time is being spent on the computer and much more time is spent outside. The weather in the coming days is supposed to be even better and I suspect we'll be outside even more. 

Thank goodness those gray days have given way and we are once again enjoying to sun.

The Perfect Pair

"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

WW- Heart Melted

Tommy is the picture of patience as he listens, encourages, and helps Ben in his reading journey. What a big brother. What love.

WW- A Little Hard Work

The Mower

 The Bucket Brigade

The Clean-up Crew

The Reward

There is no substitute for hard work.

Thomas A. Edison

WW- Inspired

WW- My Zen