Painting Pumpkins

This idea the kids came up with on their own.

So, of course I said yes! :)

Rainy Day Project

Lately the weather has been AMAZING.

The kids spend most of the long days outside. 

There sure is plenty to do out there!

Last week there was a rainy morning though. 

They were ready for a little busy work to keep them occupied.

No, I don't make them work ALL THE TIME.

I promise.

;)

We went out in the rain and picked a few different style leaves from the trees. They we traced them on colored foam sheets and the kids cut them out.

Next, they glued on pieces of felt that they cut, and also sequins, buttons, and beads...whatever their creativity called for.

Celene put "polka-dots" on hers also

Happy Hannah! She did a really great job.

Lastly, we hung them in the doorways around the house. They look really pretty!

Puppet Show

Celene just might be the most creative little thing I know.

She orchestrated an entire art class for herself and her siblings, including making puppets with felt by using my gingerbread cookie cutters as stencils, then taping them to popsicle sticks, and then putting on a show which she rigged from yarn and an afghan hung from living room ceiling.

You may not believe me when I say I had nothing to do with it, and admittedly, only vaguely were aware of their antics until they invited me to the show.

I'd have to say I was a bit impressed.  :)

Eli thought it was great!

 

Bow Hunting

It is the latest...shall I call it...obsession around here lately.

Our critter cam picks up healthy, summer-fattened deer on a regular basis, and the boys in our family are consumed with the idea of getting some in the freezer!

View from the tree stand on an early morning

High up in the tree stand early one morning

Nothing like watching the sun come up

Fishing at Gerber Lake

A sunny afternoon last week prompted a quick fishing trip to the lake up the road.

The fish were small, but they were still fun to catch!

Random Phone Pictures

Just a collection of phone pictures taken over the past 2 months.

Going for 4-wheeler rides is the goal of his day

Making banana ice cream

Is it ok if I have chocolate before breakfast, Mama?

Flying his remote control helicopter

They all came down one morning like this :)

Getting treats at "Weather Center Cafe"

Eli preferred to roam with his treat

A paper purse-making kit she got for her birthday

Celene made one too

That would obviously be his own idea

Always so proud to get a ride in Daddy's truck

She was very excited to get to the end of her "Pipe Chart"

This girl still loves her pet hen

A documentation of how many mosquito bites Eli got in one evening

Celene's Art. A drawing of our Pastor. ;)

Daddy's Work Picnic

Another set of older pictures here.

The kids enjoy the Curt G. Joa, Inc. picnic each summer!

Highlights included the bounce house, clown show, face painting, mini golf, bubbles, candy scramble, and playground.

First golf lesson

This is fun!

Now I'm an old pro

Chilton Tractor Show

These pictures are from a few weeks ago but I wanted to get them up on the blog.

They are just a few snapshots from the my phone, so not very great quality here.

The most fun of a tractor show is watching a baby boy's eyes, really. 

He was infatuated.

:) 

A "hit-n-miss" engine commands absolute concentration. :)

All of these little engines were moving and running, very interesting.

A sand area and dump trucks for the kids.

This old guy had us laughing with old-fashioned jokes.

Watching an old threshing machine in action

A country-style train ride