Riverboat

More fun in the backyard.....Geoff made a boat for the kids to play with in the river. So here is how it works: he made a little wooden boat that has a fishing line attached to it, the line runs up to the treehouse, and there the 'pull and jump' can be controlled! I'm tellin' ya - only Geoff thinks up these things for the kids - and they love it!!





Here is a short video of Ems and Jacob playing with their new toy.

Open House and Sleep Over

My brother, Robert, got married to his sweetheart, April (and she is such a sweetheart!!) in April and we had an Open House for them a couple of weeks ago.



Of course Abby's favorite part of the whole event was getting to spend time with Tatiana. They are about 6 months apart in age and about 2000 miles apart in distance, but they get along as if they were next door to each other (isn't that the greatest thing about cousins!!!)



During this week, the kids finally had their first trampoline sleep over. They were so excited, gathered all their sleeping bags, pillows, extra blankets, etc. They got all set up and were giggling and having fun....then they all started sliding into the middle....and then came the complaints, "you're on top of me!" or "stop leaning on me!" or "move your feet!!" I repeatedly asked if they wanted to take the slumber party inside and they all declined--so I guess they didn't really mind the sliding mass into the center. (I stayed out there with them, because, well, my kids are young and I don't want them to get snatched!) Anyway, somewhere around 3:00 am the temperature dropped and it ended up getting really cold and I kept waking up to slide Emeron and Anna and Farrell away from me and to cover my frozen head. ::::sigh:::: Good times. :)



This was taken 'the morning after'. Emeron and I went inside to thaw out.

We love it when Tatiana comes to visit and had a lot of fun -- always do! We spent the next day (after Tennis and Violin) at the Thanksgiving Point Farm and Ice Cream Shoppe.


Here is David enjoying his ride in the stroller. He is always enjoying everything by the way, he is such a happy baby!!


Everyone had pony rides. This was Annalyn's favorite part of the day!


Here is Fare, Robert, Anna, Tatiana, Abby and Emeron on the wagon ride. I think they all liked it, but they just don't have that same look of excitement that David had for his stroller ride. ;)

Well, we can't wait for the next visit Tatiana, we love you!! :)

Baby Robins

There are a few new arrivals to the big pine in our backyard....



Geoff props a ladder up against the trunk and sends the kids up for a close look. This is one of those pictures that just makes you smile! :)

FATHER'S DAY

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home, glad as I can be!
Clap my hands and shout for joy, then climb upon his knee,
Put my arms around his neck, hug him tight like this,
Pat his cheeks and give him what.....A GREAT BIG KISS!!

Fathers and Sons

On the night of Fathers and Sons, Geoff had to marry someone,... er, uh.... rather he had to marry another man and another woman,.... er, I mean he performed the marriage ceremony for another couple. (whew!)

ANYWAY, the boys sat waiting for Daddy to get home on the porch and once he drove in the driveway (at around 8:00 pm) they jumped in the car and waited for Dad to change and then they headed off for Fathers and Sons camp out up at Mutual Dell.

They stayed up late around the campfire, slept in the suburban (due to their late arrival) and woke early to a bacon, eggs and pancake breakfast.

After cleanup and playing around a little they ventured off to hike to TIMP CAVE....



Correction: Daddy and Farrell hiked, Emeron piggy-backed.......



Don't let the paved path fool ya, it can be a hard hike!! :) Here are the boys inside the cave, where the temperature is always cool. They loved seeing all the various stalactites and stalagmites.



After their hike and spelunking excursion, they had lunch at the base and followed the tradition of their Great Grandpa Farrell and ordered their hamburgers 'extra stinky'.

Quote for June 5

I have a calendar that has quotes for the day on it; some thoughtful, many inspirational, and even more humorous! Sometimes they say just what I feel. The quote for June 5:

I hate housework! You make the beds, you do the dishes - and six months later you have to start all over again.

HA!! :)

Super-Sized Playpen

We found another use for our trampoline......





It's kinda nice, I can work in the garden while David is in this 'playpen'. He just crawls around and bounces a little, and he thinks it's kinda neat for now - but you know how that goes! :)

School Is Out

School is out and there are mixed emotions.... Elation and a little sadness. Abby, Fare and Anna all loved their teachers so much and each offered them opportunity for a number of positive learning experiences. I asked the kids to share a memory w/me: Anna said she is going to miss Mrs. Seibach and all of her friends that we don't know. :) Here is Anna's class at a field trip to Albertsons. (Anna is in the middle w/pigtails.)



Farrell's class did many memorable activities, one of which was the Second Grade Egg Drop. An activity for the kids to concoct some sort of a container to hold an egg in, have it thrown off the roof of the elementary school building, and then see if the egg broke. Farrell made his container of foam, 3 small boxes, duct tape, and a dowel. He sure was surprised and excited to find his egg whole.



Abby's teacher is an artist and therefore made many, many creative artistic projects throughout the year. Something fun and memorable for her was the fourth grade Wax Museum, she really loved this project. Her assignment was to be Wilford Woodruff, and I loved how animated she was as she explained who she was. Check it out on this short video clip.



So I have stacks (and stacks) of school papers, art projects, important stuff to the kids. I have made books (3-ring binders) of their stuff in the past, and I guess ;) I'll do that for this year too. But really, do we have to keep everything? Of course!! Not.

Something else the kids are going to miss..... the crossing guard. There is none like her -- she loves the kids she 'crosses' and she unfailingly was there to help Anna cross the street everyday at noon, even though Anna was the only child that crossed at noon and we live just down the street from the school. She would give the kids treats weekly, sometimes daily, always remembered their birthday and even gave them christmas gifts. She built friendships with each of them and always went above and beyond. Thanks Amiko!