The Teacher

My husband is a teacher.  Not by trade.  By personality.  It's a gift.  Truly.  He thrives on it.  He was in his element at the Magee's teaching the boys how to build (and why it's done that way).

 He taught them to use tools.

 Put up sheet rock on walls...

 and ceilings.

 He even taught Martha how to use a nail gun.

Even I used it!  Like I said.  He's a teacher.

Magee's

When we left Kristin's home improvement project we went straight on to the Magee's home improvement project!  Martha's mom is moving in with them, so some basement finishing work was occuring at their house.  Since we were there... we helped.  Well, Sid helped.

 The kids and I mostly watched.  My kids had a ball at their house.  Stella LOVED the freedom she was able to have.  They have 5 acres, 2 are open space.  They live on a private dirt road, where the neighbors are known and trusted.  Stella was given permission to let me know, and go play outside.  She had 2 rules.  1. Stay out of the woods (no problem, since that doesn't really appeal to her anyway).  and 2. Stay off the driveway.  She spent lots of time outside.

Both kids also got lots of love from the boys.  Especially from Josh!  What a sweet heart that boy has.But they are all wonderful with both kids.

  Bruce got a present, a Kozy.  I love it, and he's learning to.  : )      We felt truly blessed to be there and able to help.

Aunt Kristin's House

Kristin is my best friend from college.  Her daughter is the same age as Stella (really, it's less than two weeks).  Her son is a little over a year younger.  As you can imagine fun is never far for these kids when they are together! 

 There was porch-swinging, bubble-mess-making-blowing, soccer-ball kicking outside fun.

 Slumber party with your friends fun.

 Stay in your pj's all day fun.

And fun new games to play fun.  For the kids.  

We were there to work on the house and that all got done to Kristin's satisfaction, so it was a good time for us too.

Project 52-22

 

So proud of himself.  He moved that cushion and climbed up there all by himself!

Having "lunch" in a Stella-sized Rocker at a side table.  With Mommy.  Life doesn't get much better.

The drive

We recently took a trip to Lynchburg, Virginia to help some friends do some work on their houses.  The drive was beautiful.  And the kids were so good.

  

At a rest stop

 Stopped for lunch

More on our time in "the burg" is forthcoming.

Week 21

another just pictures post

Week 20

Week of May 15

Week 19

Just photos!  Week 19

May?/ Project 52- 18

I'm not really sure what happened to May!  It's... gone.  We did spend 2 weeks away so that didn't help.  As for blogging though, it's been quite the silence. Here are the week 18 pictures!

Make Way for Ducklings?

Why yes, we live in a suburban neighborhood.  Why, no we don't really live close to water.  Not terribly far, but not terribly close either. In the children's book Make Way for Ducklings a pair of ducks make a home in a pond in the middle of Boston, and then the mama duck has to take her ducklings to the river.  Quite a walk through Boston.   It's a cute story, and I felt sure that we were going to get to see it happen sometime this summer.  After a few particularly rainy days in April, I got a call from Sid.  He told me to bring Stella outside, that there was a pair of ducks in front of a tree next door. So, out we went to see the ducks.  They waddled around, ate some... i don't know actually, but they were definitely eating, and just watched us watch them.  They didn't stick around too long though.  I guess they needed a real water source.

52-17 is Easter!

 

Stella's Easter Basket

 

The good picture before church.

 

The keepin' it real picture, before church.

 

Bruce and Daddy enjoying the Easter Egg hunt.  

 Stella did all the hunting and the rest of us watched and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

If you choose to...

read the paper for 2 more minutes and let your 3 year old entertain her brother, when you go upstairs to get him out of his crib this is what you will find:

 

Project 52- 16

 Sleepy Pictures this week!  Stella had just woken up from a nap on my bed.  She was looking so sweet, and had such rosy cheeks that I couldn't resist a few shots!  This is my favorite. 

And Buck-man here was all excited because A. I had come to get him, and B. because his sister decided to get into his crib to play with him before I got upstairs!

New Toys

Well, as my mom and I were discussing earlier, I don't need to buy my kids toys to keep them happily entertained, as evidenced by the bins upon bins of unused toys and the overworked plastic-ware drawer.  But that's another post for another day.  This is about Stella's new-to-her Dress up clothes.  That's right, folks.

We are now proudly in posession of 1 fairy dress, 3-5 princess dresses, 1 witch costume, 1 High School Musical costume, and countless accessories.

  Thanks to my friend Trisha (no, really, THANKS!!!)  we have already had hours of fun with these.  These pictures are all from day 1 (fairy outfit and purple(!) high heels). 

Week 15

These are the pictures I usually choose to leave off the blog.  But really, She's a very good big sister.  He didn't want to sit like that... or at all... for that matter.  Just thought I'd do a "keepin' it real" post.

Stella's Hairscut

Several weeks ago Stella and I decided it was time for her to get a haircut.  She informed me that I could get "haircutting scissors" at Walmart the next time we went, and I could cut her hair.  I figured that if I would have taken her to a salon to get her hair cut it would be $13 or so.  Or I could get the $8 scissors.  I chose the latter.  If it bombed, I would only be out 8 bucks, and if it worked... I saved 7, and I get to do it again.  This sounds like a good plan.  So Stella's hair is cut.  Short. 

Before

    

After

I love it.  She loves it.  I'll be cutting hair again. Sweet.

Week 14

At the "March Birthday's" Party at Aunt Sue and Uncle Tom's.