Weekend Wrap Up

Here are some highlights from last weekend! It is summer vacation, and scene-making continues! Here we have a wedding/spy adventure. A cougar and a turtle were wed by some female justice of the peace from the movie, Hercules. Several onlookers watched from beneath the globe, while mystery and mayhem unfolded on the right half of the library table. Several animals lurked in the dark spaces, watching and waiting for their chance to become wedding crashers. Things were about to get ugly when thankfully, Bennett and Ainsley's dad arrived home from work and it was time to hit a garage sale before going out for dinner. The love birds who married that day have no idea what doom nearly befell them.

We had MANY family gatherings to attend over the weekend. At the first, Bennett and Ainsley had a blast playing with cousins. They also enjoyed some new bubble guns that Grandma bought for each of the kids. Look at all those bubbles, girls! Oh, wait. Keep your eyes closed, as not to get bubble solution in them. We'll look at the bubbles for you!

The girls got to hang out with other cousins at another get together. Here they are with Cousin A.

Bennett and Cousin S., just sitting in the grass together.

Dad and I have started playing tennis again, after a very long break. We have a lot of work to do in order to become competitive again, so this means practice for us and play time at the courts for the girls. How to little girls entertain themselves while their mom and dad play tennis? They chain themselves to the tennis court fence! This seems more like torture that play, but it must be better than the torture of watching your pathetic parents hitting balls!

Scenes

For as long as I can remember, Bennett has used her vast imagination to create what she refers to as "scenes." When she is not reading and drawing, she can be found arranging figures, trinkets and treasures so that they might experience adventure. There is always a "scene" somewhere in our house. It is pure entertainment and joy to happen upon one! Here are a couple I found this week. Here we have a dog who is watching a sparring match between a female black belt and Garfield! I bet you didn't know that Garfield had some serious karate skills. Notice both are dangling from strings. This is because they are to appear suspended in air. This is an action shot, people!

While the sparring was taking place on the roof of Bennett's dollhouse, more serious matters unfolded on the back side of the building. Here we have a dare devil group of owls, riding a zipline of sorts down the side of the three-story home. This is risky business. The Hear-No-Evil, See-No-Evil, Speak-No-Evil Cats cannot bare to watch, yet they can't seem to look away! Meanwhile, the California Raisins party on below, paying little attention to what is occuring just outside the wall. Who needs television when you have this kind of drama taking place in your very home!

Ainsley does a bit of her own "scene" creation. I found this troll wearing an American Girl bicycle helmet. The troll wasn't out on the recreation trail though. She was hanging out in the salon chair. Doesn't she realize that a haircut will be tricky with a helmet in the way? Well, if you've ever read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," you know that trolls are not the brightest of creatures.

Weekend Recap

We enjoyed a somewhat lazy weekend, and it was glorious! Since Saturday was rainy, we couldn't do and painting or outdoor projects. The girls had us right where they wanted us...unoccupied by "work." It was a perfect opportunity to get Dad crafting. His crafting skills are above average. Check out the lion he made with Bennett! Our kids are always sitting ON the table. What is up with that?

Bennett spent most of her Saturday morning doing what she does best...pretending! Here is her zip line of owls. I'm sure it's not the first zip line of owls you've come across, right?

The highlight of Ainsley's morning was finding a can of whipped topping we'd forgotten we had in the fridge. This child is our junk food junkie. She wanted it straight from the can. Grandpa C. taught her that!

After the rain we managed to snag a couple of deals at garage sales. Our biggest deal was a bike for Bennett. We picked this puppy up for five bucks! The only issue is the lack of training wheels. Bennett has been informed that she WILL be learning to ride this without training wheels this summer. It will be accomplished before school begins in the fall. She is not thrilled whatsoever. Once she gets it down, she'll realize it's a piece of cake! We'll keep you posted on her progress.

Dad gave the new bike a little tune-up. Then he, of course, had to take it for a spin. A grown man on a tiny, pinkish-purple girl's bike. Nice.

On Sunday, we enjoyed celebrating Aunt C's landmark birthday with lots of family. There were gifts, cake, ice cream...and a puppy! The puppy was not a gift. It just happened to live at the party location. Here are Ainsley and Cousin M. with the new pup. Ainsley was wishing it was her birthday and this dog was, in fact, her gift!

It was a warm, sunny day! The girls enjoyed some time on the trampoline, but all that jumping makes a girl hot! Bennett decided to alter her outfit to make it more suitable for jumping in comfort. Thus, she tucked her dress into her underwear-concealing biker shorts. Voila! We have a little lumpy jumper!

The girls enjoyed watching Aunt C. getting her candles lit! They also helped blow them out. Congratulations, Bennett and Ainsley, on spit-free blowing! You are sharpening your skills!

Our final weekend event was a Sunday evening visit to Grandpa C. and Grandma D.'s house. Grandpa had a special treat for the girls. It was old-fashioned ribbon taffy! Ainsley and Grandpa enjoyed some together. What is with the "deer in headlights" look they are both wearing? Maybe a sugar-induced coma is coming on! They look ridiculous. This picture makes me laugh!

Swimmin'

We broke out the kiddie pool for the first time this season today! There were some thrilled little girls at our house because of it! Ainsley, Cousin M. and the watering cans had a grand time in the pool!

I have a feeling getting wet will be a favorite activity this summer!

Well, last week we lost our camera while on a hike. It was missing for several days, and I was certain that it was gone forever. But, I should have known that the father in this family can find anything that is missing, and sure enough he did...in the bottom of our empty pop can tub in the garage. That's another story. Anyway, very few photos were taken in the past week, so I will entertain you with some treasures I found on the back of Bennett's math tests from school! When Bennett finishes her work early, her teacher allows her to draw on the back side of the paper she's completed. Most often this occurs on math tests. It is always a treat to flip over a math test when it comes home, because what can be seen on the back is sure to be amusing! Above, we have a comic (click on the image to enlarge it.) I chuckled when I realized that Bennett's teacher must have also flipped to the back side while grading, because of her "YEAH!" comment at the bottom of the paper.

What do we have here? Why, it's some sort of little colony that lives inside of Bennett's capitalized nickname. Nice!

And finally, the ever-popular back-of-the-test artwork, Bennett's hand drawing. In this case, her hand is drawing Superman.

Mud Fight!

Guest blogger, Bennett, again... MUUUUUUD FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night we went to our neighbor's house . We had a mud fight !

MY BOOTY IS WET !!!!!!!!!

Introducing our newest blogger...BENNETT!!! We went to sno-biz last night . We like sno-biz because it is yummy! I got Indian Power flaver and my sister got pink cotten candy flaver! We almost had to skip it because we kept on fussing but, my mom and dad gave us a second chance. Adios amigos!

Mother's Day Weekend, Featuring Dad!

Being a mom often means you are also the family photographer. Rarely are you actually in a photo. Once again, 'tis the case on Mother's Day weekend. It's cool...I'd rather not be photographed anyway. And Dad, bless his soul, is TERRIBLE at taking photos. So given that, here are some highlights from the weekend that feature the world's greatest father! The girls and I made breakfast in bed for Dad on Saturday. This was done partially because we love and appreciate him. I must admit, it was also done partially because we knew that a hot breakfast would wake him up! It was an abrupt and slightly rude awakening at first, but I do think he enjoyed the breakfast. Ainsley enjoyed her breakfast by his side!

Ainsley is our handy, fix-it kid. She jumped at the chance to help Dad with some routine maintenance on the car. Don't forget the safety goggles!

And some free Mother's Day entertainment came when Dad dressed up and made a fool of himself at church on Sunday! He did a GREAT job playing the part of Bible Memory Man's arch enemy, Forgetful Freddie. He really got into his character and even talked in a high-pitch voice with a lisp. It was F-U-N-N-Y! Well, it was funny until the kids started getting physical with him and he got punched in the "red zone." Way to take one for the team, Dad!

What a FUN Weekend!!!

We just had what could have been one of the best weekends ever! It was jam packed with friends, family and food, and the weather was beautiful! Here are some photos! On Saturday, there was a "Best Of" party with several friends. Everyone brought their "best" or favorite foods to the party. It was quite a delicious hodge-podge. Here are just a few of the eats...French toast bake, pumpkin pie, Christmas fudge and Italian soup!

Ainsley's friend, T, was at the party. She was completely thrilled, as she is quite certain that he will one day be her husband. Move over, Cardboard Brian! I'm not sure T knows that Ainsley is planning to marry him one day. I hope he'll be okay with that! There was a game, a pop quiz of sorts, at the party. Here are the grown-ups, all busy quizzing. What is Bennett busy doing? Entertaining the quizzers of course!

The party wrapped up with a beloved game of Floamball. Floamball is basically Home Run Derby played with a tiny kids' bat and a ball made of Floam. Here are the some of the boys and a Mercury in the outfield.

More Floamball action. Little T is catching some air as he watches in excitement.

The dads were so kind as to let the kids bat a few times. Bennett was pretty good!

On Saturday evening, we headed to Grandpa C and Grandma D's house for some family fun with cousins. Here are Bennett, Ainsley and Cousin A settling in for yet another Gator ride. Baby Cousin S is getting strapped into the front seat. Yes, this Gator even has a baby seat!

Cousin A and her family brought their dog to visit, hence the little schnauzer in constant pursuit of the speeding Gator.

A game of Bocce ball went down at Grandpa and Grandma's. Let me just say that playing Bocce ball in the presence of a fetching German Shepard does not go well.

On Sunday evening, we headed to the other grandparents' house for an impromptu campfire. While the fire was heating up, Grandpa L and Ainsley decided a little tree climbing was in order.

Bennett decided to join them!

Ainsley enjoyed carrying logs for the fire. She has quite a load here!

Grandpa broke the old swing out of storage to create more campfire seating. The girls enjoyed laying on this, with the added comfort of an old cushion.

Eating hotdogs and baked beans with the boys on a beautiful evening...

Ainsley wrapped up her meal with a delcious smore!

Recent Randomness

Enjoy some random photos from the past two weeks! Ahhh, the first hike of the season! We LOVE to be in the woods!
The hike was also an attempt to find some morels. On our way, we prayed that God would bless us with but one beautiful little mushroom. God hears and answers prayer...we found but one beautiful little mushroom!

A robin has been making it's home above a buttress on our front porch. I'm not a fan of it's location, but it does make it easy for us to observe. I climbed up and held the camera over the nest to take this picture. Low and behold, we have a blue egg!

Ainsley is as domestic as a girl can get. She wants nothing more than to be a wife and mother someday. I love this, as she loves to help me with household tasks in preperation for her future homemaking. Here she is, feverishly scrubbing the spill trays from our stove.

And we'll end with something weird. We have lots of "weird" at our house...most recently a pink bunny in handcuffs lounging on Ainsley's bed. I asked Ainsley if she handcuffed her bunny. Her reply was "yes." I asked her why she handcuffed her bunny, and she just stared me down in silence. No idea what that's about, but good news! The bunny has been released after posting bond.