Memorial Day

I feel like I do the same post every Memorial Day. We always have a shot of Sammy stealing flags from the cemetery. We always have a shot of Grandma & Grandpa with a million little ones. (There were 20 children 12 and under at this years party, and this really is the best shot we got.)

Cute Grandma & Grandpa Richards.

And all the crazy kids in the pool. Andi and Sammy both braved the fun island this year, for a few minutes at least.

Also to follow tradition I have no pictures of the BBQ we had with my family later in the evening. Memorial Day is always a wonderful day of good food and lot's of family. About the only difference this year was that Thad did not get in the pool with the kids. He has been pretty sick the last week, and figured the freezing pool water would not be good. Don't let those kids fool you, the water was COlD!

He's lost it.

Okay, Thad's latest adventure is making me feel like we moved to oildale. Seriously. He brought home one of these this week. No, he did not steal it, and no it was not all nice and clean. It had been sitting on the side of the road on his way to work for a week so of course that meant it was all his. So after he dumped out the homeless guy trash that was still there, he loaded it up in the truck and brought it home.

Why would he bring home a grocery cart you ask? Well to build one of these of course! And he acts like I'm crazy.

That's right people, a grocery cart go kart. We happened to have a spare motor in the garage, and Thad and my brothers found this guy on you tube. So of course now they have to build one. Don't worry, there will be video posted when this thing is finished.

Father & Sons 2011

Thad and Sammy went on the annual Father & Sons camp out this weekend, Sammy's first ever camp in a tent experience. Thad kept telling me Sammy was too little to go. Sure, maybe he snored all night and got up with the sun, but he had a great time. They went with Walter's 3&4, and Bradon, and even though it was only one night, they completely filled the back of the truck with supplies and food. Mostly food.  This is what the little boys looked like before they even pulled away.

 

They roasted marshmallows

And sat by the fire

And ran around with this on his head. 

The next morning they went down to the river and caught a fish for the boys to touch and hold. They threw lot's of rocks in the water, so I think there was only one fish caught.

But they did catch a Salamander. 

Thad said Sammy was climbing everything he could from rocks, to fallen trees. 

 

They came home filthy and smelly, so it was a success. While they were gone Andi and I had some lovely girl time. We went to the craft store to find things for her to paint, we went to Rosemary's for dinner, and got pedicures in the morning. Yes, I took my 5 year old for a pedicure. Mommy needed one. 

Last week Thad told Andi a story about how he used to catch birds in his backyard when he was a kid. So of course she had to do it too. We have not caught anything yet, but she will sit in the house and hold the string and wait for a bird for a good hour before she gets tired of it. Here are the hunters by the loaded trap. They are using bread crumbs for bait, and even though the birds keep eating the crumbs outside of the trap, they seem to be on to this well camouflaged trap and won't go inside. Andi hasn't given up, but she thinks the birds might be too smart for this.

Mother's Day

Mothers day was a little different this year. We didn't have any big family gathering Sunday, we just hung out at home and relaxed. This is what Mothers day looked like at my house.

Beautiful flowers from Thad. 

The "Throw as many stuffed animals on the fan as we can" game. Never gets old with those three.

 

Sammy's swim suit is in the laundry because he's been wearing it as regular clothes. So today he demanded to wear Andi's.  He wore it all afternoon.

 

And this was my craft project for the weekend. I just thought it was super cute, so I stenciled it up and sat it on top of the bookcase.

 

Sammy story of the week. After working out Tuesday morning we came home, I put a show on for the kids, got them snacks and hoped in the shower. I got out to find Sammy had made a mess with the peanut butter celery sticks on his hands, and instead of wiping them on a towel, he used the carpet. He also was checking to make sure there really were no birds in the eggs in our fridge and he threw the whole dozen on my back patio and kitchen floor. The smell of raw eggs makes me nauseous.  It was everywhere, and so gross, and he spent the rest of the morning in his room while I cleaned and calmed down. It took a while ;)

Butterfly Fly Away

A few weeks ago Andi and I  were talking about insects in her school work, and the butterfly life cycle. So I ordered a "butterfly kit" and it turned out to be really cool. They send you  four itty-bitty-you-can-barely-see-them caterpillars, and in 3 weeks you watch them turn into butterfly's. Of course you can only keep them for a few days after they come out of the chrysalis, and Andi was very sad to see them go. But we took pictures of them for her to remember, and video of her releasing them. She was mostly sad that they did not lay eggs in the backyard before they flew away. She was determined to collect the eggs and start over with a new batch.

Of course since we've had them, and it's spring so all the bug are out and about, Sammy has been loving the backyard. He goes bug hunting everyday, luckily he's smart enough to stay away from the bees. The way he says lady bug is so funny I had to get it on video.

I used to think it was weird that he and Andi would growl at and chase birds, but I've been paying attention, and tons of little kids do it, so it doesn't bother me much anymore. Don't get me wrong, I don't love when they do it in the parking lot of any and every store we are at, but at least I know it's pretty normal.
Yesterday was a lovely lazy Sunday, and I heard Thad and Andi in the front room. I had to take pictures when I saw what they were playing. Ignore the floor debris, I told you it was a LAZY Sunday.

We have ripe strawberries in the garden today, and rasberries on the way, it's going to be a lovely week.