April Activities

In the yard kitty-corner to ours, there are some large trees. 

We have watched with great interest as a pair of

red-tailed hawks have built a large nest there.

The day we first saw the thought something was wrong with them,

they were hopping and flying all cally-whompus. 

It wasn't until later that we realized they were tearing

 large branches from the trees and dragging them up to their nesting site. 

I couldn't get close enough to take

great pictures--they would just fly away.

But they are beautiful birds.

You can't really see it, but there is a hawk

in this picture building the nest

(top, middle).

While one bird builds, the other always

sits on guard duty.  If anything

(or anyone of us)

get too close, this bird gives notice

and they both fly away.

Ryanne and her friends Jenny and Emily had a lemonade

stand a few Saturdays ago. 

The girls came to our house to paint a sign and then left

to go down to Jenny's where there

was a busier street. 

Ryanne was gone almost all day. 

They made enough money that they went back to Jenny's

and ordered pizza for dinner! What fun!

This is Kira, a little girl I watched a few times. 

She is feeding our bunny Nutmeg.

It was fun having Kira and her sister over.

I was reminded of how countless

 the hours of small-child-watching are

but also enjoyed being with them.

Mckay and Leah (but especially Mckay)

had fun playing with the girls.

Mckay liked to play peek-a-boo with them.

Here is Elias with his class and primary friend, Aaron.

They were playing together in the sand box.

Driving cars in the dirt, through tunnels,

over bridges, and in the mud never seems

to get old; even when they grow up!

Elias has found his true passion in life.

He is going to become a florist.

For weeks he has been scourging

the yard for all sorts of flowers

and then bringing them in and

decorating the table with them.

He always says the flowers are for me,

 because he loves me.  Awwe! 

What mother couldn't adore that boy?!

And now it seems he has taken up playing the air guitar.

What is he up to now?!

Actually, I asked him to move these rocks

out of the planter so I could lay down

some plastic under them to prevent weeds.

He was so proud of his labors, he

wanted a picture.

Yet another Elias creation.

(With mom's help).

We still love the blocks Papa and Mimi made for us.

This is Elias and his cousin Jordan.

They are playing

"Bonopoly."

Cheese!

Come play! I just bought the Ferris Wheel!

This is Mckay being sick with a fever

and chills and a headache.

Only rarely does he pull out Froo-Froo;

his doggie from when he was a baby.

You know he really isn't feeling well

if Froo-Froo is with him.

And this is Elias in his fort looking out of his

"bine-oc-lee-ares."

Matthew stayed with us for a week when his parents were

in Hawaii.  He insisted one night that he was

going to sleep on our horse, Arnold.

So I let him.

He was on the bed next morning!

Having Matthew was a delightful reminder to me

not to be too strict or budgeted, but to enjoy my kids.

Matthew brings every moment to life and I

really enjoy him!

He and Leah are in the same class. 

They are doing homework.

Leah seems stressed.

I'm not sure if Matthew ever stresses over anything!

Usually he's just goofy!

But we love him that way!