Little Hands...Working Hard

The boys have spent a big part of their day splitting firewood

with an ax...loading it in their wagon....strapping it down...preparing to haul it.

Here is Almonzo Wilder and Laura...see he's holding the reins...not the steering wheel...
because this is a wagon...not a John Deere Gator...

Sunday Afternoon Fun...

Sunday afternoon after daddy's nap,

he took the boys fishin' at the neighbor's pond.

The girls and mommy came a little while later.

Miss LouLou had been wanting to go fishin' with daddy too.

Her smile was so big when daddy told her she could hold the pole and reel it in.

It didn't matter that there wasn't a fish on the end.

the only thing that mattered was that she was fishin with her daddy...

and of course Little Bitty had to have a turn too...

these boys are my little fisherman...

this one loves to play in the live well of his Pop's boat...

using the dip net as they haul in the catch...

he stays tangled a lot too, see

but that didn't stop him from catching the only fish of the day...

a 3lb large mouth bass

mommy wasn't there with the camera yet so we had to settle for a picture from daddy's phone...

I'm so proud of you, buddy!

I sure did love hearing your fish tale.

And this boy was sure proud of his little brother;-)

There was even some time for playing on some rocks and posing for mommy...

and finally time to pretend your fishing with a stick when your tired of the real thing...

Guess What She Loves....

 

This girl loves to walk around outside...

in her bare feet

following the kitties and sitting with Miss Daisy

following her brothers and sisters around

eating dirt

chasing balls

pointing at everything

and smiling big!

Little Movie Stars...

Here's the cover of the latest movie production....

a stirring saga about a true love snatched away from her man

only to be returned by a repentant bad guy.

full of action and forgiveness;-)

The Great Backyard Bird Count...

We had lots of fun counting the birds in and around our backyard for 

The Great Backyard Bird Count.

We placed a feeder on our clothes line post at the beginning of winter.

We also made bird cupcakes and have kept one on top of the post.

We are able to see the birds from out kitchen window as we are eating breakfast.

This has made for some fun mornings of bird watching.

Here is our official count...

Cardinals-9

Bluebirds-2

Mockingbird-2

Song Sparrows-12

House Finch-2

Robin-1

Crow-31

European Starling-1

Dark-Eyed Junco-2

Tufted Titmouse-2

Buzzards-5

Red-Bellied Woodpecker-1

Dove-2

Brown-Headed Cowbird-1

 

 Tufted Titmouse

Mockingbirds

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

and this guy....he doesn't qualify for the count...

Happy Birthday Valentine...

This baby girl turned one today.

Here she is at her party eating wrapping paper.

and posing for a picture...

and eating her first cupcake!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl...

I love...

the way you hold onto my legs and follow me around

the way your hair hangs over your eyes

snuggling with you at night

listening to you try new words...thankyou...kitty...bubba

watching you walk all around the house

the way you love to eat

the way your brothers and sisters all want to see you first thing in the mornings...

And this morning was special....

the boys gave you a choo-choo train ride in the laundry basket for your birthday!

New Mercies...

46.  playing Candyland with LouLou...again and again until she wins

47.  Teaching LouLou how to draw an acorn in her nature notebook...watching her smile proud

48.  His playful looks and silly glances among the routine of the night

49.  girls scrambling to stand on a bucket to help cut out biscuits for supper

50.  That boy excited over something he's made...we wants me to capture it with a photo.

51.  the cool early morning breeze...running through my hair

52.  water dripping from the roof after a night of rain

53.  a hawk calling in the early morning

54.  Little Boy rescuing moth from the watery grave of the toilet

55.  chubby fingers...rubber band wrists...fingering the book I am reading in the early morning

56.  Little Bitty painting on herself more than on the paper.

57.  watching him tools in hand...crawl under the van...working hard...figuring out the problem

58.  supper waiting for us on the stove as we return from a day of riding around together.

59.  Miss LouLou coming to me tonight reaching up for me to hold her

60.  That girl always trying to convince someone to scratch her back.

61.  Our tiny miss taking those first few wobbly steps...a big smile on her face

62.  The way she crawls around after me...to hold her...those arms out-stretched...that grin irresistible

63.  Grandmother...reminiscing her childhood...sharing family history with us

64.  A house finch perching on the window peering into the kitchen.

65.  Sitting on the couch with him this morning...each reading our own thing...but we were together

66.  Little one resting in my arms as I bounce her...head falls over in sweet sleep.

67.  That Little Bitty...giggling in the driveway...her laugh is so contagious

68.  crying little one...whining...generally unhappy...I decide to thank God for the opportunity to be patient when I don't feel like it.