Spring is here!?

Spring has been in the air, followed by winter weather, and then spring again.  We try to take advantage of the spring weather while it is around.

Nathan has a unique sense of style.  He loves Eliza's socks!

Bradley recently used some of his money to buy a remote control airplane.  We have been trying to get it up and flying.  We recruited our Dad to help us out.  He got it going, but it was like playing Russian Roulett!  The controls don't really control very well.  It is a lot of fun though.

Bradley, Eliza, Daniel and Dad

Dad launching the plane into the air.

Bradley trying not to get hit by the plane.  They kids had a lot of fun playing with dad.

While we were out we noticed that some birds were checking out the bird house.  I don't think any have moved in yet, but at least there is some interest.

The kids were having some races and Eliza decided she was the winner of a gold cup.  The only problem is that she wanted me to hold it for her.  (Her imaginary cup couldn't be put down.)

So we drew her one.  :0)

Eliza was so proud of her cup she had to get a couple pictures...or 6...or 7!  

I only posted two.

The other morning I looked out at our bird feeder and there were 4 blue birds!  You can only see the blue on a couple of them in each picture.  We have been enjoying all the different birds that have been visiting the feeder.

March 3-13, 2014

Nathan Strikes Again!

I have offend said that Nathan is a little like a hurricane.  He gets into things so quickly and leaves a wake of destruction wherever he goes.  He is very cute and super sweet, but that boy is a full time job!

Using his trusty step stool Nathan found a bag of veggie sticks.  He did what any self respecting 20 month old would do and poured himself a bowl.

"Oh these are good!"

"What?!  I didn't make this mess."

2/13

Sunday after church while Andy and I were getting the food ready to put on the table Nathan struck again...

Guess what he has in his mouth...

BUTTER!!

He was eating it like a cob of corn.  He wasn't happy when his Dad took it away either.

He decided that a slice of banana bread would do if he couldn't eat the butter.

2/16

One morning while I was working on the dishes I looked in and noticed that Nathan was once again helping himself to a snack.

He found some cereal with freeze dried strawberries in it and helped himself.

He picked it out handfuls at a time and dropped it on the couch.  Then he picked the strawberries out and ate them.

Then the flakes would get swallowed up by the couch.  It was so fun to clean up.  :0)

2/20

As much work as he is we wouldn't trade our Nathan brother for anyone.  We are glad he is part of our family.  He keeps us all hoppin' and that is for sure!

Building A Birdhouse

Bradley still needed to make something useful for scouts, so he and Andy headed in to the garage to make a birdhouse.  Daniel was my photographer.

Bradley and Dad getting started.

Nathan was the supervisor of the day.

Nathan inspected every step of the building process.  Dad had to keep a close watch on him.

Bradley paid close attention to the proper way to use all the tools...

Can you tell?!  :0)

The birdhouse is coming together quite nicely.

Nathan and Dad getting ready to attach the hing on the top.

This is the birdhouse hanging in the tree out front.

They made it so that you can open the roof to clean out old bird nests and get them ready for a new one.  We are excited to see how soon our birdhouse gets put to use.

Winter Wonderland Part 2

Later in the afternoon on the 13th we headed outside to enjoy the snow again.  We borrowed a snow shovel from our neighbor and Daniel started working on the sidewalk.

Daniel putting his back into it!

"Did you see that shovel full?"

Back to work boy!

The snow wasn't the best for making a snowman so we sculpted a snowman.

Eliza and Daniel next to the base.

It took a while but it slowly come together.

I had to shovel the snow up into a pile so I could use it to sculpt the snowman.

Eliza was my supervisor.

Nathan also supervised the building and shoveling.

He kept wondering back and forth between my building project and Dad and Bradley building a birdhouse in the garage.

I started using the snow on the van because it was closer and easier to get to.

You can see there is about 2-3 inches on the windshield, then about an inch of ice, followed by an inch of fresh snow on top.  I could dig the snow out from under the ice layer.  It was kind of cool.

Another look...

Eliza standing next to the almost finished snowman.

Bradley decided he needed to give the shoveling a try.

Will came down to play with us in the snow for a little while. 

Will liked our snowman a lot.

Daniel, Bradley and Will

It was no surprise that school was cancelled on Valentine's Day when we woke to snow still covering the roads.  Friday morning we headed out again to enjoy the snow.  It was warming up pretty well and things were starting to get slushy.

Bradley and Eliza 

Nathan was so excited to see water starting to run down the road.  He just couldn't help himself.  He had to be IN the water!

Aiden and Nathan checking on our slowly melting snowman.

Aiden thought it was pretty cool.  

I thought Aiden's hat was pretty cool.  :0)

We walked up and down the road so Nathan could follow the water.

Nathan's favorite thing to do was to pick up small ice chunks and...

throw them in the water.

Our drive had a small lake pooled in front.  We finally got the shovel out and moved some of the ice and slush out of the way so it could drain.

Eliza used this stick to keep the chunks moving so we wouldn't get any blockage again.

Nathan was her supervisor.

Bradley and Daniel cleared the ice down farther to keep the water flowing down hill.

They stayed out for almost 30 minutes trying to keep the water going.
We really enjoyed all the snow but we are looking forward to warmer weather.

Feb. 13-14, 2014