Really Random June Wrapup

This was Liam chatting to PaPa on Father's Day. In my imagination, I'm seeing him on the phone with friends at 15 and with girls when he's 20. Ha!

While that all was happening, when what to my wondering eyes should appear out back:

"What the thunder...?"

Yes, that would be a Chris George and a Pap helping Dada unload the wood that he bought at an auction.

For those of you who aren't local, Dada's been bitten hard by the auctioning bug. Lots of Stuff has been coming home to stay with us besides wood. Some things have already proved their weight in gold, like the rototiller that got our garden ready. Others? Well, just don't ask me about the drafting table.

Anyway, good thing we have a handy dandy shed with a loft for the wood that was bought with projects in mind.

*****

And then out front, what in the world is going on out here!?

Looks to me like Darth Vader and the Shrike from Hyperion put in an appearance... check out Vader using the Force!

Watch out, Vader, or the Shrike is gonna getcha!

*****

Mind you, these were all taken in June, so we've had progress which I don't have pictures of yet. Shocking, I know. 

We had green caterpillars all over the Brussels Sprouts so we had to spray them down after feeding the frogs in the pond and squishing bunches of extra caterpillars. Blech. I did save a handful of them in a jar for the kids to watch, and sure enough, we released our first butterfly yesterday!

So then here are other random greenery things happening around here. We're particularly fond of the butterfly bushes or tickle plants. Don't they just look like the bees would be giggling and jiggling all through them because of the fine hairlike thingies on them?

Last year these guys were blooming around the Golden Oldie party and the hummingbird visited them. They're all done now, so the hummingbird zips by out front in the random flowers that sprang up under the birdseed feeders.

Liam's job this summer, well, one of them, is to keep the birdfeeder filled for our feathered friends, like these nuthatches:

Another fun visitor:

He's not related to the aforementioned green caterpillars, by the way. I'm not sure where he came from.

And then these guys are Downy Woodpeckers who visit often. There were three on the suet feeder, and the one on the left couldn't reach it. His buddy leaned way over several times and helped him out. Carrie and I were enchanted!

Here's up close, cropped versions.

And that was June! Sorry, Mommee, that it took so long. 

Still a sucker for morning light

These are just photos of early light on a June morning. Yes, I said June. I'm so far behind I may yet come out ahead. 

The neighbors' pond reflecting sunrises proves irresistible to me every time! 

July Fourth

                           Happy birthday, America! 

We've been in our "new" home for almost two years now, but this was the first year we've stuck around for their fireworks show. We had a good time. The best part about living where it's flat, besides the fact that you have a whole lot of sky, is that there really isn't a bad seat in the house when it comes to fireworks. There are plenty of choice spots to spread out and goof off:

The shenanigans began after a gorgeous sunset. Dada introduced the kids to poppers. Damon was a little bit apprehensive, but it quickly turned into delight. Liam, not surprisingly as he loves anything that has to do with noise and surprise, took to them right away. The second picture was especially funny as that particular popper didn't go off the first OR second times he tried and that just astounded him. Damon's did, hehe!

The show certainly didn't disappoint. The neighboring towns were celebrating their bicentennials so I'm sure their fireworks were probably above and beyond, but ours were very satisfying. I took plenty of pictures but figured you'd get the general idea from the collage above. Liam commentated the entire show and was shushed by Carrie more than once. 

Dada had pointed the car facing the road for a quick getaway, but he was persuaded to stick around and let the shenanigans continue instead of beating the band outta there. 

Up next were the sparklers.

Again, Damon was a bit unsure at the beginning as you can see from his stance as Dada lights his sparkler. However, the inherent magic of sparklers is how they win everyone over, and soon enough he was sparklering (new word, everybody) like a pro!

I told them, "stand together and face me." Well, you can see how that turned out. No Christmas card pictures here...

Happy Fourth of July!

Stroopwafel S'more Shenanigans

PaPa's first time at the pool

Who ARE these guys?

Taking advantage of the Kids Bowl Free summer program

For my mother: the braces-less picture

Happy Birthday in the house

So now it's June. School is out, Grandmama is here, the garden is officially going, the kids are eating us out of house and home, and we've already been to the pool three times. What else is happening? A little of this:

And a little of that:

And once again we have a six year old in the house!

Damon Sebastian turned six yesterday, to his great delight. He got a box chock full of stuff from Grandmama and PaPa that he dove into before church, had cake at lunchtime, and did more presents in the evening. 

Yes, that would be Darth Maul with a Twizzler for a light saber, thank you very much.

And presents. He got Operation and a robotic turtle game, along with a movie and a coloring book, and the aforementioned box from his grandparents.

And then, as Mr. Stanford says, "last one best one!" Dada waited until Damon was in the bathtub to unleash the final present:

This picture is hilarious because she is A) practicing her Grinch smile and B) has a light pretending to be a halo behind her!

Back to the birthday boy's face when told he had another gift:

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands!"

And Dada nailed him:

And then he figured out what to do with it:

And then first thing this morning he comes down in full swim gear, locked and loaded with his gun, and is squirting Liam out front, who is fending off the spray with two umbrellas. 

Happy birthday, buddy. So glad you're part of our crazy family. None of us can believe you are SIX.

#LifeWithBoys, #HappyBirthdayinthehouse