One warm afternoon, Esther gave Mr. Imagination and Little Miss a tub of water to play in. They sure had fun splashing!
Children
Fun at the Park
We had to go to Christchurch last week for Mr. Inventor’s orthodontist appointment. While he and I were in there, the rest of the family walked to a playground down the street. That was quite a treat for these country children! Here are Mr. Handyman and Little Miss.
Mr. Intellectual
Mr. Inventor watching Mr. Intellectual, Mr. Imagination, Mr. Diligence, and Mr. Sweetie.
Esther gave Little Miss a swing ride. Apparently, Little Miss loved it so much she was quite upset when they quit swinging.
Summer Afternoon
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post one afternoon while I was outside watching my three little ones play. Here are a few more pictures I took that afternoon.
Little Miss took a long nap on my lap. That got rather uncomfortable, but she liked it! I got five books reviewed.
After playing in the water in the old bathtub for awhile, the little boys warmed up in the sun with the inner tubes.
Mr. Inventor’s geese checked us out.
After she woke up, Little Miss went exploring again.
That was such a lovely afternoon!
This Afternoon and Last Night
It’s pretty hot today, so I’m letting my little people cool off with water. They would love to go to a swimming pool, but the big boys are all at work so I’m giving them the next best: cold water in a bathtub, with a plastic tub for Little Miss. This is when I really like having a laptop, so I can watch them while still getting something done! This is what I see as I write this:
When I went outside last evening to take a few pictures for the post I did featuring the garden, I got to enjoy a brilliant double rainbow. It was much more beautiful than these pictures show.
This is one of this year’s experiments. Right after we planted the tomatoes, I had broccoli and cauliflower that also needed planted, but didn’t have any space for them. I put some between rows of tomatoes. A chicken ate most of them while they were tiny, but some of the broccoli survived. It’s getting taken over by tomatoes by now, but I noticed that some are starting to form heads!
The sunset was gorgeous, and I always enjoy seeing the Indian Runner ducks running in single file across the paddock. The geese were pretty active, too, but the turkeys were going to bed. It was dark enough that my camera flashed, and in this picture, the second one I took, they were getting nervous.
Evening Antics
One evening the little boys were playing church just before bed. Mr. Imagination used these two stools.
Mr. Sweetie was preaching from the tall stool, and then Mr. Diligence took his place.
Mr. Intellectual was at his usual occupation. (I’m enjoying having a child who is as much a bookworm as I am!)
Mr. Inventor was enjoying his baby sister. This is one of the best pictures we’ve ever gotten of him—he has a hard time putting on a natural expression.
How to Make Egg Cake
Our ducks have been laying their eggs in puddles–especially in the large “lake” in the paddock in front of the house. The boys ate some of the first ones they found, but decided they tasted like swamp muck. We cooked the rest of that batch to feed to the chicks. The next time some came in, I told the boy responsible that either he would cook them, or we would throw them away. My 9-weeks-pregnant tummy couldn’t handle the thought of possibly cracking open a rotten egg! Of course, he opted to throw them away. Boy #4, however, had a brilliant idea: cook with them! Here is the video he and a brother made of his creation. And yes, he is up high in a tree. What can I say–we have real boys!
Little Boy Having Fun
Our littlest, who recently turned two, loves playing outside. One evening, I looked out the kitchen window to see him hanging over this gate! His big sister grabbed the camera, then ran to his assistance. It turns out that he had climbed up, dropped a pen he was playing with, then couldn’t get it. Poor little fellow was quite distressed. After he got the pen back, though, he was fine. The next act was to try to stare down the calf—and then he pretended to shoot him with the pen!
Another day, I was hanging laundry and he came out and wandered over to the shed where a puddle forms instantly under a leaky rain gutter when it rains. At that time, we hadn’t had rain for a few weeks, and he sadly commented that there was no water there. Within a few hours, however, it started raining and he happily discovered the puddle again!
He somehow manages to lose his pants frequently, and we often don’t get them back on for awhile. He likes it better this way.
One day, Daddy was fixing a door and had to lay down to see what to do with it. He had helpers!
This little fellow’s favorite activity for a couple of days was “cooking”. He would get all the pots he could carry from the cupboard in the kitchen, then spread them out on the floor in the living room and “cook eggs”. Those pots were HOT! he said.
My Newest Favorite Movies
Our children made a couple of movies last week. I enjoyed them so much that I want you to have the opportunity to see them, too. I know some of you already have, but for you others–enjoy!
Supermoon
After a full week of rain, we figured there was no way we’d be able to see the full moon last weekend. However, the skies cleared just in time! We got to enjoy the brilliant moonlight as we drove home from a midwinter dinner Sunday night–we could even see it shining on the snow-capped mountains off in the distance! When I went out to milk the next morning, the moon was about to set over the hills in the west and was so beautiful that I ran back in to grab the camera.
Last glimpse of the super moon.
First rays of sunlight hitting the snow-covered hills to our west.
And, here are some random shots from the week. Sunset through the trees in our front yard.
New way to play piano: When your clothes are being changed, jump up and run away to big sister, lay down in her lap, and play the keys with your feet!
Elijah made a pinata this week, in honor of Daddy’s birthday. We had great fun cracking it last night.
Crooked Grin
A few days ago, Baby invented the funniest crooked grin. It cracks me up every time I see it!
This grin is also typical–especially when he’s coming for a hug!
Guess who liked the pancakes for breakfast!
Pretty pleased with himself–he found a whole roll of fruit leather that someone left on the table.
The two oldest boys were wrestling. They seemed pretty evenly matched!