Video Game War's

I have come to the conclusion that PlayStation was created by satan. There, I said it. Why do I think this you ask? Because it has turned what I presume to be normal 8yr old boys into mean little aliens. I first discovered this when my son had a sleepover with a few friends. It turned into a night from hell. His two friends did nothing but fight over the PlayStation. Fight to the point that they had to be separated into different rooms. I tried numerous ideas for getting them to share the system. Nothing worked. My son whom never got a turn was so busy trying to keep the peace between them two he ended up frustrated and crying and asking me to please turn it OFF. I did so only to have the two friends turn on (gasp) ME. I was ready to send them home when they made a peace treaty and played something else. Then last night my son had another sleep over with two different friends. Again the two friends fought over the PlayStation. The irony was that my son did not fight to play at all even though I had it put up for the past month or so. The one boy I swear is addicted to video games. He played it for an hour while the others played outside. When they came back in and the other friend asked to play he did not want to stop. When I told him he had been playing long enough and it was time to share it he got mad and got his stuff together to go home. I told him that was fine that I would take him home and would be happy to let his mom know the situation. He changed his mind and stayed. He still wanted to do nothing but play video games. He even asked to play at 10:00 pm before he went to bed and then asked as soon as he got up at 7:00am. I told him NO both times. His parents have no problem letting him play all day. They are happy with that. The other little boy from the first sleep over is the same way. Would play 24/7 if you let him. Both these boys think I am mean when I make them stop playing. Amazing. I really don't care if their parents let them play all day, it is not my concern. I just don't like how mean they get when they are made to stop or share it even. I wonder if they have seen this side of their children. I know I have. These two are not going to be invited back during a sleepover situation. I cannot nor will not tolerate their behaviour. I will invite them back one at a time though, especially when the game system is put up. :)

Weekend recap

This weekend I hung out with a 13yr old version Jekyll and Hyde. Need I say more? I think there is some type of training going on to see how far I can be pushed before I totally lose my mind. So far I have withstood the rigorous testing process. I think I am still intact. :) I have only had a few visions of running away to some exotic beach and hiding out until they are all grown. :o But those are fleeting and I would miss all the laughing and shouting and snuggling that goes along with them. We did have a late evening walk last night which we enjoyed. We saw a pair of geese with there goslings floating down the river and my son and daughter loved that. "They are so cute!" They wanted to follow them down the river, but it was getting dark so we had to head back home. I do love taking walks at this time, it is so peaceful. The other highlight of the weekend was my son found a wild strawberry patch in the field near out house and they spent a lot of time down there picking and eating strawberries. They also made houses in the tall grass and played until the sun was setting. I loved watching them run and play like that. It reminded me of when I was little and I remembered how much fun it was to hide in the meadow grass. My 6yr old showed me their "room" and they had trails that led to the different "rooms". They all enjoyed it very much. I did not have my camera with me and I wished I had because it was pretty neat how they had there "house" set up.

We are walking along and my 6yr old is talking non stop about everything she see's or hears.

My 2yr old was sleepy so I opted for the backpack in case she fell asleep on the way. She didn't, ofcourse, so I ended up just carrying around 30+ pounds on my back for nothing. These mountain hills are fun with this load. :)

I LOVE this barn. The picture does not do it justice. It is so huge and is just beautiful. I have seen people by the side of the road with their easels out painting this barn scene and tons of people stop to take pictures of it so I guess I am not alone in my love of it.

The end is near...

Of school that is. I am so ready for it. My children are so ready for it. They are looking forward to summer with wild abandon. Endless summer days of frolicking in the sun, swimming in the river, skipping rocks, catching firefly's, stargazing, bike riding, late night games of cartoon tag, all the fun stuff that kids love to do. I love just watching them. We do slip in some learning on the sly, but it is so much fun that they don't even realize they are learning. We also have fresh veggies from the garden to enjoy, along with all the fun of planting, weeding, then harvesting them. ;) We are counting down the days. We get a double bonus in that when school ends their daddy comes home! YEAH! All are looking forward to seeing him and riding in his big truck. Until then though we are busy with school function after school function. With 3 in school, the end of the school year is very hectic. I am trying to enjoy everything while maintaining or shall I say restraining my very active 2yr old during all the hour long functions. I am somewhat successful. For some reason she does not find all the programs as stimulating as the rest of us. I am sure that if she were in the program it would be much different. If we did some program like the following picture it would be a huge success. She does love to dress up!

The wood fairy meets the island princess.

Summer means more time for just hanging around and blowing bubbles. :) I love how kids let you be a kid again! Who can resist bubbles???

MIA

Sorry family and friends. I have not had a phone nor Internet access for 2 weeks. Can you believe that? You actually get used to it. At first it was annoying, but it kinda grew on me. But we have it all back again and I thought I would update y'all, or you-uns as they say in my neck of the woods. :) The weather has been monsoon weather lately so all my beautiful flowers are gone, but in place is lush greenery. My yard is part pond, part meadow. If it ever stops raining I will get to mow it. If not, I am going to invest in a goat! Maybe 2 goats as big as my yard is. My potatoes are up and I have yet to plant my onions nor the rest of my garden due to the lack of dry weather. I really am not complaining though. We have had a drought for the past 2 years so the rain is much needed. Tonight my son and I walked in the drizzle up the path to a spot up on hill where their is now a stream from the water rushing down the mountainside. The little trickle of water we used to have flowing behind us in the woods is now a full fledged stream complete with small waterfalls. You step outside and all you hear is the water rushing down the mountain stream. I love where my house is. The house and front yard are all open space with just a few trees and expansive lawn. Behind our house is nothing but woods and mountains for miles. The mountains stretch all around us and the woods are so dark and mysterious now that they are full of foliage. We have seen so many animals in there lately. Speaking of animals, my kindergartner had her school play in which she was a dinosaur. It was a big hit and the kids all loved it. They did a spook on American Idol only using dinosaurs instead of people. It was cute. We also went to visit cousins again for my sister's oldest birthday party. He was turning 8 and was having a Luau. It was a big hit. The funniest part was when my sister pulled out sacks for the sack races and after demonstrating how to do the race she lined everyone up and started backing up saying, "Ready, set, " then "OOF", she fell flat on her fanny turning her ankle in a hole. I, being the sweet sister I am, immediately turned the camera on her to get a picture. Then I ran for ice before snapping it as I could see that although she was laughing, she was in pain. It was nothing too serious and I did manage to snap a picture of her on the ground icing her sore ankle. We made it through the rest of the weekend and believe it or not nobody got sick. Amazing I know. Here are some pictures from the missing weeks.

Sis down and out with family gathered around.

My fierce little dino. Love ya dino star!

My little monkey dressed up with her monkey. She dressed him up too.

This is what my oldest taught my youngest. Now when you tell her NO she says "Please" and dows this. I thought I was immune, but at times it is downright irresistable. ;)

More spring pics

I know that spring has sprung in most parts of our great state, but up here in the higher elevations it has just begun. These warm days have us frolicking in the hills and wading in the streams. No matter where you live, get out and enjoy this wonderful time of year when nature awakens from deep sleep and beauty abounds!

Our apple tree blossoms.

Our carpet of petals.

Getting ready to blow!

The Beauty of Spring

This morning I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and my 2yr old and I along with my camera went outside to enjoy the day. The smell of all the flowers and the sound of the buzzing bee's captivated our senses. The air smelled so good! We blew bubbles, smelled the flowers, watched the bee's, and just enjoyed the beauty all around us. Under their favorite play tree it was magical. The branches dip down creating a shadowy perfumed world. The whole tree is ablaze in color and the flowering blooms have attracted all the bee's and birds. Under the tree the buzzing of the busy bee's can be heard. They stick to the upper branches luckily. The ground under the tree is carpeted with the perfumed fragrant leaves of the flowers that have started to shed their petals. It is a great place to just sit and enjoy nature. It is truly a beautiful day. I am glad we took the time to enjoy it. With the weather calling for rain the next 7 days I am planning on leaving all my inside work for later in the week. After all, the laundry baskets of folded up clothes are not going anywhere. Besides, I am only adding to the piles with my latest addition from today's wash. :) My helper enjoys running through the clothes and occasionally knocking some off the line with her exuberance. I remember doing the same thing when I was little. Their was something magical about the clothes flapping in the breeze and the excitement of running around and through them.

This picture does not capture the beauty of the tree, but you get the general idea.

My 2yr old enjoying the smell of the flowers.

Here is a picture of the flowers on the tree up close.

Here is my other favorite! I had to pick a few to take inside just so I could enjoy the smell.

Playing in the sheets that are hanging on the line. (Note to her auntie: The T Rex shirt is such a hit. She wants to wear it everyday and hates to have it gone off to the wash. You also created a monster with my son regarding those Bagel-ful's. He got a box at the store and ate them all in 2 days!)

I'm Back!

I bet you thought I disappeared! Instead we visited our aunt/uncle/cousins for spring break. We hunted eggs, the kids fished with their uncle and Indiana Jones was a hot game for the big kids. My son came back with a nice touch of poison ivy (thank you uncle) and both my son and 6 yr old and I caught a nasty stomach bug while visiting. We have since decided to quarantine my sisters house and have decided that we will invest in those surgical masks the next time we visit. That and take baths in Clorox! Just kidding sis. We rushed back home in time to see my hubby who was home for a few days. He brought along his trainee who has a serious case of super hero complex. I honestly considered making him a super hero suit or letting him take my son's superman costume! He was comical at first, but after a few days I was looking forward to his departure. I have since started my spring cleaning which includes both house and outside. That and the fact that I have been like the little old woman who lived in the shoe as I have had so many children here I have not known what to do! The great weather has helped. I have been lured away to go to the park numerous times and have also been lured outside for games of Frisbee and the timeless classic cartoon tag. So that is the short recap of my few weeks.

Here are the little bunnies (Tristan excluded) who are modelling their bunny hats we made in between sickness.

Here is my Catbird's latest fashion. Fun and exciting and a little intimidating. :)

First flowers! Beautiful!