Fishing

Jackson's dad called us last week and asked if we wanted to meet right after dinner to go fishing. We went, and had a great time!
He ties his own flies and had one that looks like an ant. He told Thomas to just let it touch the surface of the water and the little fish will bite it every time.

Sure enough...they bit right away.

Thomas with his first fish.

Removing the hook.

We put them all in this bucket and then set them free again. There were two that were big enough to eat, so we did take those home, cooked them, and ate them.

This is how Thomas felt about the whole experience!

Next time we are going to bring a pole that is a bit smaller and more manageable for Nicholas. He had a hard time maneuvering that big pole! Thanks, Bubba, for the fun time!

She Strikes Again!

The make-up monster strikes again. This time she did it while I was on the phone telling my sister the funny story about when Estella got into my makeup! Little did I know she was at it again! I have seriously got to find a new home for my makeup bag. Preferably somewhere very very high.

Under Dog!

That is what my boys ask for as soon as we get close to a swing. Thomas now boasts that he can pump higher than an underdog. Maybe so, but that isn't nearly as fun!

After I put the camera away, I lost Essie...TWICE!!! Then, today at the library I REALLY lost her. I had two complete strangers frantically running around the library searching for "a little girl in a pink fleece jacket." We finally found her in the teen section blissfully jumping from beanbag to beanbag. She is TOO FAST! I am seriously considering a leash.

Sleeping Beauty

Grammy

I had to bring the words "Aged, Pink, and Paper" together into a picture for my photography class last week. I thought of Jackson's mom's mom, Grammy, because she is so beautifully aged, love to wear pink, and has both written books (paper)and plays the piano (paper music). So, I went to her retirement apartment house last Sunday morning before church and we played. I am so glad I was pushed to do this, and am now motivated to photograph my other grandparents.

This is the image I chose for the class. She is holding one of her published books.

Here are some of the others I liked.

I love you Grammy!!!

David Attenborough would be proud

Nature at work on my kitchen table.

Playing at "the field"

About a block from our house we have a "field" in our subdivision. I used to call it the park, but the kids would be disappointed every time I told them we were going to the park and we ended up there. Park, to them, means swings and slides. So, we went to the field a few days ago and soaked up some of the last bits of good weather.

Mascara

I swear she was only out of my sight for 30 seconds. I found her in my bathroom with makeup spread out all around her. She had sampled the mascara, put the lid back in the tube and put that back in the makeup bag. She was busy digging her finger into some eyeshadow and rubbing it on her eyes. I am impressed she knew where to put things on her face. She is an observant little thing!

Where did you put the makeup Essie? "Eyes."

No Mistakes Allowed

The erasers are gone. An hour before taking this picture, these pencils were waiting in an unopened package in my desk drawer. Waiting for a special day when I was ready for some pretty new pencils. Well, Estella found them first. Found them and devoured them. I found them under the piano bench...not one eraser left whole. I only found about half of the erasers...I'm sure I'll find the other half in her diaper. Silly girl!

Somewhere over the...

RAINBOW!!! A few days ago Jackson called me seconds after he walked out the door to go to work. "Jen," he said, "Grab your camera and RUN outside right now." I did as directed and was rewarded with this. Within a minute it had nearly disappeared. Imagine how many beautiful things happen and go unseen by so many! I hope this brightens someone’s day.

The Chocolate Store

Last week Nicholas earned a trip to the chocolate store. We went as a family and had a great time ooh-ing and ahh-ing over all the yummies. Nicholas went with the biggest, most colorful item in our price range. Yum, yum!

And here is a photo of Thomas holding a sweet little ladybug he found in the garden.

Yee Haw!

My boys LOVE Uncle Jake!!! These pictures are from our recent trip to Fillmore. My dad used to be the "horse" and try to buck us off. Jake did this with Thomas and Nicholas and they loved it.

Blankies

I am taking an online 4 week photography class. The last assignment was this...If you had to leave home and take only one item (besides people and pets) what would it be? Take a picture of it in three different types of lighting (ex. indoor, midday, and late afternoon). I decided the one thing (which is actually three things) would be my children's blankets. I don't know what I do, but all three of my kids are attached to a blanket. Not just kind-of-like-it attached...they are seriously I-won't-go-to-sleep-without-it-and-want-to-take-it-EVERYWHERE attached. I just photographed Nicholas's blanket for the assignment, but it inspired me to take a picture of all three of them with their blankets. (excuse the red processing...we have also been encouraged to try some new things with photoshop for the class).
This bottom picture is the one I submitted for my class. This is actually the second blanket for Nicholas. It's a long story, but basically the first one was lost, my mom made a replica (she had made the first one) and then months later the first one was found in tatters in a horse corral). Thanks Mom! You're the best!

Swinging

Whenever we go to the park, the first thing Estella wants to do is swing. ...and swing, and swing, and swing!

Making Apple Cider

Last week, while we were in Fillmore visiting my family, we pressed apple cider at a family friend's orchard. We did 6 gallons using apples from my parent's trees, and another 6 gallons with apples from their trees.

You send the whole apples into the chute and it chops them up really fine.

There is a slatted wooden board, then a wooden frame which you cover with a special fabric square. When the frame is full of apple chuncks, you fold the fabric tightly over the apples, take off the frame, add another slatted board, and do it again.

When you have enough layers you slide it over to the pressing end of the machine.

It slowly presses down and the juice pours out the bottom into a bucket (a very clean bucket).

Then you pour it through the strainer to catch any chuncks.

Fill the jugs and enjoy!

I am not a fan of store bought apple juice, but this...this was incredibly tasty and satisfying!