Mom, I know I just had a fever, but the sun is actually shining today...and I have my sunhat on...I just want to get out of this house for 1 minute! I promise!! How can you resist those blue eyes?? Rain rain rain....off they go in the rain to feed Happy Hopper. (Don't worry, Emily had on her raincoat!)

Okay...I know I'm not supposed to touch the cookies while they're cooling, but how about I just take one bite???

The one that got away.... The 4 that didn't!!!!!

Yep, Twinkie was going for a walk with the kids outside and made a run for it. Poor Twinkie. I told the kids, well, the outside is really his home, so that's where he wanted to be. They tried chasing after him, but he wasn't ready for round 2 of being cooped up! They feel bad and I'm sure they will miss him. I told them at least you still have Happy Hopper...it's not the same though because he's big and his cage is outside.

Jake went fishing with Grandpa Ben last weekend and caught all these fish =) He was very proud of himself, and wants to go everyday now! Emily got the chance to go a couple days later with Joe & Grandpa Ben & Jacob. She caught 2 fish but I have no picture...

Weekend

The kids and I started planting our garden this morning. They helped plant quite a bit. We were about 5 feet down the first row and Emily was getting tired from "all this work" =) Meri actually did a lot more than I thought she would. She like putting the seeds in the ground. We planted beans, peas, lettuce, carrots, squash, watermelon and cantaloupe. I realized I still haven't got my tomato & pepper plants. Oh well, more fun for next time. I believe my darling husband's gardening eyes are much bigger than my green thumb!! I'll have to get a picture of the garden area next time. Break time!

When they weren't helping, they were exploring the log pile.

My man doing the dirt work with the CAT for our addition to the house!!

Saturday was spent working on this area underneath our house. It will be closed in where those posts are and we will have a few more bedrooms!! Yay!!

flowers & critters

Yay!! Lilacs are blooming! These have got to be one of the most beautiful flowers. My kitchen now smells like lilacs! Wish we had our own lilac bush =) One thing about living in the country is there's always an abundance of wildlife...SO, I was on our porch minding my own business the other day when out of the corner of my eye I saw our black cat pounce on something and then I heard some high pitched squeals. Being curious, I went over to the edge of the porch and waited to see what would happen. Then I see something brown hopping away as fast as its little legs could carry it. I watch some more and see the cat pounce a second time on a different animal. Well, I went down to check it out. Aww, it was a little rabbit. So, I figured if I left it the cat would kill it like it did the rest of its family. So, being a city girl turned country, I told Emily, Larissa and Meri to watch the bunny while I ran to get a pair of gloves. (Do they bite????) Turns out I wouldn't have needed them, he didn't even try to bite me, just tried to hop away. So, I took the little rabbit and we have been caring for it ever since. The kids are so attached to him I hope he will survive! They've named him Twinkie =) Followed by (Twinkie) Toes, (Twinkie) Bell or (Twinkie) Pie! He loves dandelions and cuddling. He was scared at first, but now he doesn't mind being held. Welcome our new little critter!!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there =) Hope your day is great! My kids (with Gramma Linda's help) picked out some flowers for me for Mother's Day~ then my thoughtful son decided to pick up toys and surprise me!! They were so excited for it to be Mother's Day~~they're at fun ages for it now!I have gotten numerous bouquets from my girls this past week =) Gotta love the dandelions!
First campfire of the year. My firebug son begged and begged and begged to have a campfire, so I figured why not?? They loved it!

No campfire is complete without marshmallows!
Toad hunting. I was hanging clothes out on the line that morning and almost stepped on a little toad. So, I figured Jake would love to see it. Then, they found 2 or 3 more and decided they each needed their own "house" complete with grass and rocks and sticks =)
How many kids does it take to push a swing??? All of them! (well, it looks like Meri was on strike in this picture)

Weekly overload

My flower child =)


3 flower girls

Gramma Ruth came to visit and the kids enjoyed some stories with her
Dress up with a new bag of clothes Gramma Ruth passed on to us. It was cute they kept trying on different clothes =)

New play doh toys

The two wild haired princesses. I have to laugh at Emily's scrawny legs =) They looked especially long with the short dress =)

Little Meri picking flowers for me!

We had an interesting week...my neices spent the week with us while their parents were on vacation. The kids were thrilled=) Jacob and Benji spent the week (mostly) with Grandpa & Grandma, so he was thrilled with that! During the days Tanya & kids were over, so we had a FULL house! The weather wasn't great around here, but the kids played out if it wasn't raining and then my mom came to visit the end of the week, so that was fun for everyone.