Kicken' 'em out!

Ever have trouble getting your kids outside? I do. Okay, granted, it's often waaaay too hot down here and I can't blame them. But when it's not-- off they must go. I'm a firm believer in kids being kids and running around outside. But that's hard in a city with nowhere to explore and few kids to play with in the nieghborhood. I often find myself bribing, pleading or threatening lives just to get them to step out the door. Sigh. The draw of electronics is all-consuming. And we barely even have any!
Okay, enough lamenting. Here are some fun pictures of when I actually got Mckay outside (sad, I had to document this moment, just to prove to him that he did go out). Elias is tagging along while Mckay plays ball with Mike, the next door neighbor, and David, a friend from church. Mike's dad bought a basketball hoop and it draws in boys like frogs to their lilly pads!

Elias, Mike, David, Mckay

They like to play "Around the World"

Judging the shot.

Eying the rim.

He shoots!

That's all. I just love these boys!

The Backyard

So, we've lived here a year and a half and finally put sod in the backyard. I am so happy to have more grass clippings and less mud coming in the house. I'm especially happy to have all the drip system in for my vegetable and flower gardens! Hooray! I love being outside--my balm! Here are some before and after pictures. Wes had some good friends help with the sod.

(Thanks good friends)! Before the grass came.

The Hard Workers.

It involves dirt? YES! I'll help.

This is how we level the dirt.

1. Throw the rake out.

2. Heave-Ho! Pull the rake in.

3. Level that dirt! (This kid is way too excited).

4. All the way back to the edge.

5. Survey the job.



6. Tell mom you did a great job helping Dad.


Look at all that work!

All the kids watching the Dads work.

Leah, Elias, Devin, Analise, Ryanne, Mckay.

What does Elias have in mind? Is he up to mischief?

"Mom, can't we keep him?"

That looks better!

Now, on to some things planted in the garden . . .

Fuschia, one of my favorites.

Lavender!

My dear friend Ellen gave me this dwarf apple tree--look at those apples!

Elias picked this one out.

Tomatos!

Another Ticket Night

Since I just posted about ticket nights with the kids, I thought I'd throw in another example.

Elias came up to Wes last night and said, in one long breath without stopping, "I would like to do a ticket with you tonight and I want to read stories with a fire in the fireplace and look at the stars outside and have cinnamon toast for a treat!" He was so funny-- flapping his hands and bouncing up and down as he was saying this. You could tell he'd been thinking about it for a while and he had it all planned out!

So they did (even though it was near 90 degrees yesterday--Wes still lit the fire for him). They were so cute and Elias was chattering non-stop the whole time. He was thrilled to hang out with his daddy all by himself.

Looking at Orion and other constellations in the back yard. It was pitch-black, so the pictures aren't great. Elais wanted to know if my camera flash was a shooting star!

My Good Life: By Leah Andrews

Leah is up doing a "ticket" tonight. What are Tickets? Each child has two a month and gets to use them to stay up late and do an activity of their choice with Mom or Dad. Leah wanted to write a blog, so here she goes:

Here I am on the little wall in my back yard. I am happy that we got grass.

This is a picture my Mom took of me on my seventh birthday (April 2nd).

I liked my birthday. I went to Disneyland with Angel!

I got a secret diary from Mimi and Poppa. The pen has invisible ink.

When you shine a magic light, the words show up purple.

Here I am opening presents with Poppa.

I was at their house for general conference.

We had ice cream cones. Yummy Ice Cream!!!

For my birthday, I got to sleep over at Rebecca's house for two nights!

Rebecca is a terrrific friend. Here we are sitting on a wall in front of my house.

The last is, when I was at Rebecca's house,

my Mom and Dad painted my room and put new furniture in it!

It was so beautiful! And I got a princess crown!