Playing Duets with Grandma

Both Emma and Jacob have these accompaniments that go along with their piano pieces in their lessons. Their teacher, Sister Bake, plays them during there lessons, but Grandma enjoys playing with the kids too. This one sounds neat with Emma's "Hot Cross Buns."

Jane wanted a turn playing with Grandma too. Grandma just started playing this old duet she used to play with us as kids and actually Jane's note ALMOST sounded like they belong.

At the end Jane gets very distracted by Matthew and says "hello." I just love her smile when she talks to him

JANE ABIGAIL!!!!!!

Today I used Jane's full name for the first time. Well at least the first and middle together. As you can see above She found a way to climb up on top of the dinning room table and dance. Now why would she want to do that? Possibly it is because of the great big mirror mounted to the wall on her left. Regardless of the amount of times I pulled her down she was up again in a flash. I probably shouldn't have taken this photo, I think it just encouraged her to go on and on until she got a great big. . .

"JANE ABIGAIL! You get down now."

At this point she was not happy with me and my reprimand. I can't even claim it was worth it. She climbed up another three times after "the name" was even used.

Well what can you do. Sometimes they are so stinkin' cute even when they aren't obeying.

Laundry Day

Have you ever wondered where I, Robin, get my obsession to organize from? I think it is from my mom. Who got it from my Grandmother. Who might have got it from living in this little house for so many years. With seven of us sharing just two of the three 11' X 11' rooms, space is limited and it feels as though the laundry has been taking up too much space.

For over two years we have been doing laundry once a week. It seems better than a load everyday that haunts us as it sits on the bed clean waiting to be folded, or folded waiting to find a way home. But with this big mess lurking about it has been really tempting to go back to those haunting days. My mom suggested laundry sorters and I have wanted them for a long time, but I do so many loads that a small two or three batch sorter just doesn't cut it. Mom suggested making one and crazy as it sounds we went for it.

After a couple trips to Lowe's and hours thinking and talking it out, mom and I got a blueprint together and my brother Kenny brought his saw out to cut PVC pipe into the lengths we needed. I have to tell you that watching my BABY brother use this big ugly power saw was quite literally the scariest thing I have ever seen. I only had a moment to snap this picture before I started asking him to double check he was being careful. I honestly glanced at his fingers to make sure they were all there. Then I quickly went back into the house, where I kept all my kids the entire cutting process, and prayed that no appendages would be displaced in this process. After all, if something did happen it would be my fault because he, MY BABY BROTHER, was helping me with my project.

Once the cutting was done, Jacob and Kenny pounded them together with a rubber mallet. We did buy PVC glue, but once we put them together to check that all the lengths were correct I couldn't get them apart, but I think I will keep the glue just in case something comes loose.

Then came the cool part. We placed Mom's winner of a find, laundry bags on the frame. She found them at the dollar store, but she only paid $.88 each because it was $.88 Tuesday. We got them different colors to help the kids in the sorting, this is not really that pretty, but I am hoping it is worth it to keep the kids from getting frustrated.I just can't believe that a whole week of laundry can sit here sorted and ready to be washed. I usually spend an hour Tuesday night sorting to I can wash on Wednesday. I think tonight I will reward myself with an extra hour of sleep, just because I can.

So here we have it! It is a little long for an average laundry sorter, but it fits the space perfectly, my six loads of laundry fit fine, and for under $25 it fits the bill too!

The Circle of Life

One Saturday afternoon my (Robin's) Uncle Ken called up to the house and asked if Jacob would like to come out and ride in the tractor and learn a little bit about the task Uncle Ken had before him.

With the MANURE SPREADER! That is right folks Uncle Ken (and Jacob) would take heaping scoops of poop out of the cows' coral and place them in this implement (trailer thing you hook to the back of a tracker). Then they would drive over to the field and Jacob would press a button and manure would spray all over the field as they drove up and down the rows.

Of course being an eight year old boy, Jacob first giggled when we explained what Uncle Ken was doing with the tractor in the coral. But to say he was excited to help is an understatement.

After an interesting lesson on the circle of life Jacob's final comment was, "No wonder you always wash our food!"

Our Bag Lady

Some of the cutest pictures are unposed and completely spontaneous. I can't believe how fast Jane is changing from my little baby girl to this adorable toddler full of smiles!

Jacob actually took these photos. He is really good at getting her to smile! She was just so busy carrying around her bags and playing her own little game.

What Little Kids Will Do When No one is Around to Interfere

Why do we spend hundreds of dollars each year on toys?

Meet the Rabbitsons

Meet Bolt,

Lady, and

Robert.

As part of cub scouts Jacob can pass off the skills he learns taking care of a pet. I promised him that Grandma's dog would be a great pet to learn to take care of, but before our arrival, Grandma's dog ran away. Luckily a sweet lady down the street raises bunnies, purely for enjoyment. She allowed us to "borrow" some bunnies for the duration of our stay so we could learn to care for animals. They really are very cute, and the best part is the ability I have to return them if the kids loose interest and stop taking care of them.

Unfortunately the day after I took these photos Robert and Bolt escaped! We found Bolt, but Robert seems to be long gone. Jacob is heart broken, but Sister King is happy to lend us another. Sweet Sister King! I will post pictures of a new bunny soon.

One good reason to wear shoes

While doing some training prior to my deployment, I was fortunate enough to be in northern Florida for a month. Since I love running so much, I decided to go for a run a couple of times on the beach while I was there. Not only is it a really good workout, the scenery was awesome. But the creatures that tended to float inland and get stuck in the sand was reason enough to at least run with shoes on, making it much harder as you slide and sink more. I survived, and luckily I never stepped on one of these guys while running the one day barefoot.

These two guys are little jellyfish that washed ashore. This little one was about the size of silver dollar, but its tentacle was about a foot and a half long. The body of the one below was about the size a fist. I saw about four smaller jellyfish and four larger ones within a quarter mile of my run. I then decided to run further inland so I wouldn't get hurt.

And lastly, this was the view from the hotel I was forced to stay in. Life in the Air Force is hard sometimes.