Parenting Quote from 1918

First of all, we have given our children a home where harmony, affection, and humor prevail and co-operation between parents instead of dissension is the key note.

An order is never issued without taking time to see that it is obeyed and the sense of expectancy brings speedy results. On the other hand we answer their questions as carefully and politely as if they were callers.

I adopted a dear relative's custom of taking every belonging left about the house and depositing it in an inconveniently located "catch all." The delinquent never needed to inquire; conscience led his steps there for the mislaid cap or mittens. No words are exchanged on the subject, though a quiet smile might appear on mother's face.                  (from Sonlight Forums)

Oh, that I could give my children these three things!

The New Piano

Our awesome Kawai piano - a Christmas gift from Grandpa Verlin and Grandma Jane.  We are all thoroughly enjoying the new keyboard.  An extravagant plus is the beautiful mahogany exterior.  We are so grateful!  Never did I dream I could have such a beautiful instrument in MY living room :).  Praying we can be good stewards of the gifts God has given us musically.  (i.e. We must PRACTICE!!)

The Harford Fair by Titus

This is how the Indians would hold the alligator so they could tie a rope around its snout.

My favorite part of the Harford Fair was my root beer sno cone.  I didn't get a root beer float, just a sno cone.  That is root beer with ice.  I liked the tractor pull.  I liked it because it was cool to see the tractors when they were pulling and I liked to hear what they did.  But, I lost my juice box. (It fell under the bleachers.)

Catchin' some shade by "Farmer for a Day." 

I liked the alligator show.  I really wanted to go up on stage.  I would have put my hand in his mouth like this.  But, Daddy wouldn't let me go up on stage to have my picture made with the other alligators. (It meant $$$!)

This is a sensor they stick in the ground.  Mommy wouldn't let me pull it out so I could see what it looked like.

This is where they drilled a hole and put dynamite for the seismic testing.

The Orange Bag

Whirrrrr.  It's 7am and the helicopter is making its trek over our house to drop the orange bags.  Back and forth the helicopter travels until it has picked up and delivered its quota for the day.  Then the trucks begin arriving and parking in little coves off our dirt road.  The men open the bags and lay out all the cords to line up with the pink ribbons. 

A look inside the orange bag.

These contraptions are sitting out every mile or so.  Rumor has it that if you unplug these boxes they will know within fifteen seconds and come find you within five minutes! 

  Better than a stork-delivery :)

Soccer Saturdays

Featuring:  Titus, the soccer stud!

Soccer Games Begin Again!

Waiting for the game to start...

Go Titus!

Good block!

Kick it up the field!

Am I going to be okay, or cry? (he decided on the former) 

Serious, tough man face...

Smiling face!

Coming in triumphant - 4 to 2!

Good game!

Look who was managing the grill up at the concession stand! :)

Productive Garden Weeders

Ready, Aim...

Fire at the photographer!

Are you eating the weeds Titus?

"It looks like a caterpillar!" ~Briella

Busy weeding...

 

Hiding in the weeds (the tall ones outside the garden)

Wrestling in the tall weeds...

Uh, oh! Where did my glasses go?!

Of course he employs his brother to look for them

Marci the master searcher of lost glasses

Look who found them!

The beautiful sunset!

and a photo of the photographer just for Aunt Jenny!

Blueberry Picking!

It was a race to see who could pick the most berries Mommy vs kids!

Is that a good blueberry Titus?

Reach!

Mother-load! 

 Yumm....

 Blackberries too!

And a surprise in the blackberry bushes--a big yellow spider!

Our freezer is now restocked with blueberries thanks to hard workers...well most of them....some of them were just good eaters

Saturday Night Trip to the Emergency Room and More!

Saturday night as Daddy was working on his trailer the jack popped out and hit him in the face.  It cut through his upper lip badly enough that he went to the ER.  They had to put 3-4 stitches in his upper lip.  This is what it looked like as of Sunday afternoon:

He was making silly faces as I tried to take his picture!  He says it hurts to say p's and b's but other than that he can still talk.  And he manages to eat just fine! =) 

So Mommy said that we could just photoshop out his eyes and put Briella's eyes there because her's are just like his.  Which of course she responded with this look:

 I have no idea why Titus was making this face, but well, it is a peanut-buttery Titus face!

And a Smirking Jared face (I tried to take his picture but he ran away until mommy told him to stand still and let me take his picture, but he wouldn't wipe the smirk off his face).  

And there's your little update from the Rose Bush News!