New digs!

The turtle sandbox from Step2 was great for Slater, but a little small to contain to shovel-wielding toddlers, so we decided to go for the boat. This is a design that our friends the Powells used in their yard. I love the huge box, boat shape and large sail that acts as a sun-shade for enjoying the sandbox all day. We spent about 6 hours working on it- the turf we had to cut out took most of that time. Once we started to work on the box it went fast and the kids loved playing with it during every part of the building process.

Helping Uncle Dan and Dad with the sandbox-ship.

Each kid picked a tool to work with: Jade loved the triangle and pencil, while Slater worked with the tape measure.

All this building makes for hungry kids :)

The ship has been launched!

Slater helping with the sand.

The finished product with two happy campers! It needs a little more sand, but all the yards are closed for Memorial Day.

Favorite post bath activity

Reading in the big chair!

New vacation home!

Alright, it is only new to us and it isn't really a home. But we plan on making it our home-away-from-home this summer. It has room to sleep six comfortably and more if you wanted to be "cozy". There are a few little things that need work, but we are thrilled to add this "home" to our collection.

"Kid's Fish" Day at Cramer's field

Our little archer. He wasn't big enough to try the target shooting, but the kind man at the archery booth had a son the same age and very patiently walked him through shooting 4 arrows. He was thrilled to shoot and even more excited to go out and pull the arrows out of the targets for the next group. What a great event for allowing kids to connect with the outdoors.


Slater was skunked this year, but still loved just holding a pole and watching a couple of other kids catch fish, "Bravo, bravo!!"

Jade's lucky wasn't any better than Slater's, but she did enjoy her "Unc Carter" time. Lately she has been asking where people are and then informing you where she thinks they are. So today she said "Unc Carter watching a movie, mommy, with Aunt Sylia."

Soon to update!!

So many posts, so little time! You would think that being done with work for the next three months would give us some free time!!

Soon to be seen on our blog:

Yard work - Goodbye trees, hello view
New Vacation Home - (the redneck kind)
End of School
Slater Progress report!
The launch and landing of a pirate ship

This is my "to-do" list for weekend blogging :)

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day

Rough and Tumble Boys

A recent evening spent celebrating a birthday at Aunt Melinda and Uncle Rick's house. The younger cousins (all boys except Jade) had a wonderful time playing pig-pile in the yard. Jade had a great time running around with the boys, but never went any closer than this picture :) Oscar was such a good sport with the younger kids and was often the bottom of the pile.

More some ...

Yup, she's so cool that she has to wear shades at dinner.

A few little Jade-isms to mark month #21

Her language has continued to develop quickly, with 4-8 words sentence that have clear meanings and distinct opinions.

For several months she has said, "I want more some banana," or "More some swing, mommy." It is adorable to me, but still I am quick to say, "You would like SOME MORE banana?" It is hard to correct this cute quirk in her speech. She is now saying it the "correct" way and I can't help but record it here so I can replay it in my head as I remember the way that she began to talk.

A few others that we have heard recently:

"I need a hop-a-cikle" (Popsicle)
"Where my broffer go?"
"One, three, four cars I see"
"I lufe you!!"
"You a silly goose Daddy"

If you would like to hear more some Jade-isms, give us a call or leave a comment :)