A Baby Story

Ainsley loves babies. I cannot even describe to you how deeply she loves them. Given this, today was a dream come true for her. She got to hang out with a sweet, little baby friend of ours over lunch. She was so thrilled. He was indifferent. She didn't mind. She was living a dream!

Family Portrait

Bright and early this morning, Bennett requested that I come quickly to her room. She wanted me to see something. This is what she wanted me to see...her real-looking, fake pets posed with her American Girl dolls and herself. She asked if I would please take her family's picture. Of course!

Geocaching 101

We had our first geocaching experience early this week. It was great fun on a crisp, fall morning. We had some expert geocachers with us, so that made for an educational and successful time of treasure hunting. Above, Bennett had just spotted our first cache in some bushes.
Here, "The Expert" is helping Bennett open the cache so she can see the little log book inside.
You may not have known this, but taking four children geocaching often results in good times that do not involve geocaching whatsoever, such as pine cone collecting.

The Great Outdoors

We enjoyed an Sunday afternoon hike at an awesome recreation area over the weekend. A variety of leaves, twigs, acorns and such were gathered, as well as numerous bottle caps for Bennett's beloved collection.

Bottle Caps and Brush Piles

We had a great time being outdoors at home today. Bennett and Ainsley spent a great deal of time playing Bottle Cap Blast-Off with me. We made a lever out of a few shims Dad found in the garage. Then we launched members of Bennett's cherished bottle cap collection in the driveway. It was great fun! Here is Bennett with the lever...
Here are Bennett and Ainsley, attempting to catch some launched bottle caps. You can't see the caps because I am so good at launching them...they were quite high in the air.
After we finished with the bottle caps, the girls enjoyed their brush pile "fort-cage." They always enjoy a good brush pile. They'll be sad when Dad hauls it off to
Grandpa and Grandma's burn pile.

Making the Most of a Virus

Ainsley has come down with a virus. It involves running a fever and having a headache, for the most part. She's been laying around this morning, which is difficult for a child who is usually on the go. Solution: make yourself a bed in your ball pit. That way you can play with your toys and promote healing at the same time. Oh, and watch a movie about Baby Jesus while your at it (hence the doll in the ball pit.)

Animal Atlas

Bennett has decided to create her own "Animal Atlas" book. Above is the first entry...the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. We are in the process of finding a fact about this creature to write down, because an animal atlas really should contain some facts about the animals. I'm pretty sure her next entry will be an Albino Crocodile because she already knows a fact about it. She's just trying to figure out how to draw one!

Collision Course

So, this has to have been one of Bennett's best ideas ever...stack up several cardboard boxes (that we'd been saving for friends who are moving) and drive full-speed at them on the Barbie trike. Oh, and wear your bike helmet, of course! A near roll-over...
Little Sister behind the wheel, or should I say, handlebars...
Check out the spectator seating on the right...
Ainsley doesn't pack much punch, even at full speed. Here she is about to topple one box off the top, which was about all she was capable of.

Specs

I don't know if the appropriate exclamation is "How cute!" or "Yikes!"

Real-Looking Fake Kitten Meets Daisy

Bennett's real-looking fake kitten tagged along to Grandpa and Grandma's for an evening around the campfire over the weekend. She (Bennett tells me that calico cats are almost always female) had the good fortune of meeting the neighbor's horse, Daisy, while there. Daisy did not seem to be very impressed with the kitten. She looks as though she's about to eat the cat, but rest assured...Daisy and the kitty are on opposite sides of the electric fence. Bennett would never truly jeopardize the the life of Real-Looking Fake Kitten. I'm pretty sure that this kitten was the best $5.99 we've spent on our child, as far as toys go.