Decade day

This week we had decade day...the kids could choose any decade.  It was surprisingly easy to throw together an 80's look for Tara.  She ran from room to room gathering. The shoes are gold heels that you can't see...they brought the whole outfit together.  Of course, since we were 'dressing up' she wore bright red lipstick too.  It was a fun day.

I didn't ask them to pose.  This was just their natural reaction.  Supposedly there was some attitude in the 50's.

I knew there was a reason I was hanging on to this poodle skirt since high school.

We added just a few minutes of "just dance" with the uncles visiting this weekend. 

Tara decided to try cheer camp this week.  She for some reason wanted to at least try. 

So, next week she'll go again and try out on Friday.  One of her judges said  she needed to be louder.  She can be loud, but it does take alot of effort. 

A break from the norm

A ship for Indiana Jones (with his own steering wheel)

Eva the robot

The awesome thing about helping dad put together new cabinets is........all the extra foam pieces that come in the box.   The kids were "busy" for a long time building their creations.  Emily actually got styrofoam under her skin (while pushing the skewers through the foam, one went through her fingertip...ouch!)

Here's what we put together and added to the playroom.  Now we can have our toys but not look at them.  The items still out of the cupboards are going to be the first donated to anyone who will take them. 
We put together 2 more in Jacob's room that are a wood finish and blend right into his walls....one is devoted entirely to legos.  Who knew one little boy could have so many legos.
We also put together a tv stand....pictures will follow soon.
Happiness is ........storage with doors

We spent our spring break doing a variety of things. 
***We called the roofer (after we discovered another leak in the storage room).  They say it's a fairly quick fix but that it's a flat roof on that part of the house and should not have been shingled.  (Inside I'm shouting yay...hooray....I've wanted that room cleaned out for a long time and now we HAVE to do it.)

***We called the animal control .  We've heard noises under the house for a while but, they are getting louder (meaning animal is getting bigger) and we couldn't figure out how they were getting in.
So, after traps were set we've found 2 possums (and the zoologist has taken them to a happier home).  We still heard more movement last night, but they are too smart for these traps (cages with fishmeal and peanut butter inside).  But, we've closed in the hole....so, they have no way out.  this story is to be continuted....

***We saw some movies.  Most memorable were Gnomeo and Juliet (alot of Shakespeare quotes in that one....listen for my favorite 'out, out, 'cha darn spot.'  It would be fun to see how many actual quotes there were.  It inspired Gene to get a new lawnmower.  Netflix has had a few too....one called "Letters toGod." a story of a boy with brain cancer and another called "Dear America: The Royal Diaries"  "scholastic"stories about real princesses that I believe are pretty close to historically accurate: Cleopatra, Isabel and Elizabeth I. And "Batteries not included" a really old 80's movie about  tiny alien robots who come to help tenants in a building defend themselves against the selfish land-owner. It was surprisingly funny and clever.

***We went bowling.  Sorry no photos and nothing noteworthy other than Jacob actually can bowl now with no assistance (and we have no more fear of backwards flying balls).

***We played outside.  We had a nice park trip and a sidewalk chalk afternoon and plenty of swing time.  We got gas for the mower and have thought about mowing, but have yet to do it.  It will have to be this week.  Gene and the kids helped Richard till his garden area too.

***We went shoe shopping.  Us girls bought about 8 pairs of flip flops some with animal print, some with stripes, some with 'bling' and Jacob got a new pair of light up spiderman tennis shoes.  His toes no longer curl up in his shoes.

***We bought Gene a laser. One of those little key chain lights with a laser.  It has been a total transformation.  Now the tortured has become the torturer.  The cat has woken Gene up every morning at about 4 am.  Now, Gene turns that laser on and the cat follows it and tries to catch it.  He runs her in circles and up and down the hall with great roars of laughter.  Now she is so tired, she sleeps all night.  And I think he's almost happy to see her when she shows up.

I'm breathing one last time before it begins again....tomorrow begins a week of cheer camp for Tara and baseball practice for Jacob....and everything else that goes with going back to school. 

Cousin/nephew Justin Borden is coming in town this week to say 'goodbye' before heading out on his mission to Africa,Mozambique, I think.

A family that hammers together.....

Jacob working hard to put his cabinets together.

what Tara's been up to.

It's been awfully quiet in the girl's room......and this is why....

A baby fox

They've figured out so many  on their own.   A cup, a box, a fox, a boat, a frog and a butterfly.

                                         ..........and a bird.
Yay for colored paper!  Yay for quiet moments and imagination!

Great luck!

Here we are at almost mid March and it's Spring Break this week.  We are so thrilled to have a little time off of our regular schedule.  Some time to wiggle our toes in the greening grass and clovers.

Emily was the first to notice the blossoms on our trees. We can't remember which kind we planted in what hole.  This is the first blossom....does it look like an apple or peach?

Our daffodils are bright and cheery....and make swinging on the tree much more fun.

For Gene's birthday we headed to Texas Road house....Tues. night is kids' night.  Games and balloon magician.  We stumbled upon a great party for them...which made a quiet few moments for mom and dad to catch up on the week.  Gene didn't want to be in the photo (I had to count myself lucky he's been in the last few baptism and scouting pictures.)

Don't know if you can see it, but Gene spend some time yesterday putting up his hamm radio anteanna....it looks like a flagpost.  But, now if he needs to, he can talk to people much further away.  I think it's a lightning rod waiting to be used.  You can tell in the pictures the  rain clouds are rolling in.  That's ok...we'll take a little rain along with our break.

Retainer, Pres. Johnson, Mad Hatter and Tryouts

Emily got her braces off and now has a retainer that she only has to wear at night. It pops in and right out so easily. Flossing is a breeze now for her without all that metal in the way.  We are looking forward very much to April 4th when Jacob gets his off! 

Emily completed a 4 page report on Pres. Andrew Johnson and made this diarama of the Treaty with Russia and purchase of Alaska. 

We were pleased to learn that he was from Tennessee and then a little disappointed to know he was the first president they wanted to impeach.   

Emily made it into the Might Math Club a while back, but they just now had a Mad Hatter party with outside putt-putt on the front lawn of the school and a magician and lunch. 

The weather has warmed up a bit and Jacob and Daddy have been practicing for baseball tryouts.  You can see that pitch coming at Jake....I'm sad I didn't have my fast shutter because he socked this one right back into Gene's chin.  That would have been a great photo.

We've had alot of illness this past week.  Jacob and Emily both had the stomach flu.  Jacob's fever lasted for 5 days.  The 6 kids that sit at his table were all absent on Monday.  Little germs travel fast.  Emily missed 2 days and then had one day to do all her work and then had to take her tests on Thurs. instead of Friday because of the Mad hatter party.  So, she's happy today after all that frenzy is done. 

We had alot of rain on Weds. that came down fast and our front room flooded again.  We didn't have a dry towel in the house.  We've dried it all out and are grateful we aren't like alot of others in town who lost alot.